The moon is near Saturn on Nov. 20. Look for them in the southern sky around 6:30 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Starry Night
The moon returned to the evening sky last week and just as it reaches its first quarter phase it passes near Saturn.
To see the two together, face south on Nov. 20, as soon as it gets dark. Find the moon here and look above and right of it for Saturn. The planet is not as close to us as it was at the end of August, but we can still get a nice view of it and its spectacular rings. The two objects are due south at 6:30 p.m. and you can view them until they start to set in the southwest around 10:30 p.m.
On Nov. 24, the gibbous moon is near Jupiter. Look for them in the east after sunset. Photo courtesy of Starry Night
By Friday, Nov. 24, the moon is in its gibbous phase and is near Jupiter. Face east after sunset and find the moon again. Jupiter is the very bright point of light below and left of the moon. You can see them together through much of the night. They begin to set in the western sky around 3:30 a.m.
Kevin D. Conod is the Planetarium Astronomer at the County College of Morris and president of the North Jersey Astronomical Group.
