"Moonlight feels right …" Remember those opening lyrics to that classic '70s tune with the same name by the group Starbuck? I love that old song but I can't say that moonlight makes me feel right, at least when it comes to stargazing.

Weeks like this, when there's a full moon, mean nothing but trouble for serious stargazing, especially this time of year when the full moon takes a high path across the sky. All but the brightest stars and other celestial goodies are washed out by the lunar light.

It's still worth looking up into the night skies this week, however, because the full moon will have some really close encounters, or as we say in the stargazing business, conjunctions. Both Mars and the Pleiades star cluster are going to get a good mooning this week.

The moon orbits the Earth every 27.3 days and as it does, it takes an eastward path among the stars, about 13 degrees or 26 moon-widths every 24 hours. It just so happens this month that the moon is on what seems to be a collision course with Mars and the Pleiades. In fact, it will come close to covering or eclipsing both of them. It will definitely make for some great celestial eye candy.

If it's clear enough Sunday night, you'll see a really bright star to the lower left of the nearly full moon. That bright star is actually Mars, a little more than 42 million miles away, at its closest point to Earth for the next 13 years. There's absolutely no mistaking Mars for anything else. It's by far the brightest object in that part of the sky right now and its astronomical calling card is its distinct orange/red color.

Just to the left of Mars will be the Pleiades, otherwise known as the "Seven Little Sisters." This is the brightest star cluster in the sky, resembling a miniaturized Big Dipper standing on its handle.

Let's hope the weatherman cooperates Monday night, because the full moon and Mars will be in a really close celestial kiss that you won't want to miss. Mars will be just two degrees below the moon.

That's equal to about 4 widths of the full moon. You can have a closer look with your telescope but I have to warn you, that full moon is going to be so bright it might be tough to look at. You might have the moon flashing in your eyes for some time after you back away from your scope.

Telescoping at Mars won't be that good either with the moon so close by washing it out. Seeing details on the red planet's surface can be enough of a challenge even on completely moonless nights.

On Tuesday night, the full moon will get even closer and more personal with the Pleiades. It will start out the evening just 4 degrees to the right of the Seven Little Sisters, but by Wednesday morning — around 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. — the waning full moon will be less than one degree from the Pleiades.

You definitely want to check this out with binoculars or a small telescope throughout the night as the moon edges closer to the cluster. You may even see it cross in front of a few of the outer fringe stars of the Pleiades.

The Pleiades, all by itself, is a wonderful celestial treasure. It's more than 2,300 trillion miles away from Earth, so far away the light that we see from the Pleiades tonight left that cluster back in 1,595! The cluster is made up of hundreds of relatively new stars, about 100 million years old, stretched out over 174 trillion miles.

Enjoy the frolicking full moon this week, but watch out. Don't get moonstruck!

Mike Lynch is an amateur astronomer and professional broadcast meteorologist for WCCO Radio in Minneapolis and author of the new book "Pennsylvania Starwatch," available at bookstores and at his Web site

www.lynchandthestars.com