Get ready for closest moon-Jupiter conjunction until 2026 with these awesome photos

The best moon and Jupiter photos from late last year, in preparation for the upcoming conjunction on January 21, 2013.


Later this month, the moon will sweep near the planet Jupiter in what will be the closest moon-Jupiter conjunction until the year 2026. North Americans are particularly well-placed to see the moon and Jupiter very close together in the evening sky on the night of January 21, 2013. It’ll be a waxing gibbous moon – more than half-lighted but less than full – that’ll pass less than a degree to the south of Jupiter that night. It should be very beautiful, as seen from around the globe, not only on January 21 but also on January 20, and for several nights before and after that as well. In fact, as the moon waxes in the evening sky over the coming week, you can watch the moon creep toward Jupiter. How you can you find Jupiter? You can’t miss it! It’s the brightest starlike object in the evening sky now. Learn more about how to spot Jupiter at EarthSky’s visible planet guide. EarthSky’s uber-talented Facebook friends from around the world posted the photos below on our Facebook page. They show the moon getting closer to Jupiter, then farther away again, then closer and farther again, over the past few months. Enjoy them! In every photo, Jupiter is the brightest starlike object visible. Then watch in the real sky to see the waning moon over the coming week edge close to Jupiter. Finally mark your calendar for January 21, 2013 – the closest moon-Jupiter conjunction unti the year 2026!

Another telescope view. Moon and Jupiter one day later than the picture above, on October 6, 2012. Notice that you can also see Jupiter’s moons in orbit around it! This photo comes from our friend VegaStar Carpentier in Paris.

By the night of November 2, 2012, Jupiter was rising in the east some hours ahead of the moon. This image is from the Sierra Madre mountain range in the Marikina Valley in the Philippines. It’s from our friend Jv Noriega.

Moon and Jupiter on Christmas night – December 25, 2012 – as seen by our friend Jv Noriega in Manila, Philippines.


fuente, earthsky