You can watch the moon pass by Earth's sky for two nights, starting Wednesday (Nov. 10)
On Wednesday, the moon will be approximately 4 degrees from Saturn. This is because the celestial objects are in a conjunction. Soon after sunset, you can see Saturn and the moon together. According to In-The Sky.org, the best time to spot Saturn and the moon from New York City is at 5:01 p.m. EST. They will be visible until 9 :17 p.m.
On Thursday, November 11, the moon and bright Jupiter will meet again. This time they will be within four degrees of one another. According to In-The Sky.org, you can spot them starting at 5:02 p.m. in New York City. They will remain visible until approximately 10:34 p.m. local.
Related: How to photograph a moon with a camera
Note: We have the best deals on telescopes and binoculars for you to view the planets in the night sky. To ensure you are ready for skywatching events, check out our top astrophotography cameras and best lenses.
After passing by all the bright planets in southwestern space, the moon will pass to the east of Jupiter on Thursday (Nov. 11,). (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
Can you see the moon passing by the stars? Let us know if you took a photo of Saturn, Jupiter, or the moon. You can send images and comments in to spacephotos@space.com.
The ecliptic is the path of the sun through the sky that connects the moon and planets. It also represents the plane in which the solar system operates. This happy coincidence creates opportunities throughout the year when the moon and planets are close to one another. Sometimes the worlds align. For example, on Nov. 19, the moon will experience a partial lunar eclipse as it passes through Earth’s shadow.
Saturn and Jupiter are both very bright at the moment, so you can easily see them with your naked eyes. Jupiter is magnitude -2.4, and Saturn magnitude 0.4. Sirius is the brightest star in our sky (magnitude-1) and naked eyes visibility is usually around magnitude 6.
For at least 20 minutes, adjust your eyes to the sky in order to get the best out of your observation session. Avoid bright lights. To preserve your night vision, use a red filter if you want to consult a sky map using your smartphone or flashlight. Make sure you are warm if you live in cold regions.
For more information during conjunctions, ambitious astronomers may use binoculars and a telescope. You should be able to see the moon's craters with binoculars, while a small telescope will show you the rings and four Galilean moons of Jupiter, Europa, Enceladus and Ganymede.
You can find the best deals on telescopes and binoculars for viewing the planets in the night skies by visiting our guide. To ensure you are ready for your next planet sighting, check out our top astrophotography cameras and best lenses.
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