November 19, 2020: The thick crescent moon is to the lower left of Saturn this evening. Jupiter continues to close the gap to Saturn as their Great Conjunction approaches on December 21, 2020. Mars is in the eastern sky among the dim stars of Pisces.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 6:46 a.m. CST; Sunset, 4:26 p.m. CST. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times for your location.
This evening the crescent moon – nearly 30% illuminated – is in the south-southwest, 5.4° to the lower left of Saturn. The Jupiter – Saturn gap has been reduced to 3.3°. Jupiter is to the lower right of Saturn.
Farther eastward, Mars is over one-third of the way up in the sky in the east-southeast, near the stars Epsilon Piscium (ε Psc on the chart) and Delta Piscium (δ Psc). The stars are dimmer than Mars and nearly form an equilateral triangle with the planet. A binocular helps see the planet in the starfield. Mars is 2.8° to the lower right of ε Psc and 2.9° to the lower left of δ Psc.
For more about Mars during November, see this article.
Detailed note: Saturn is 60° east of the sun. Find it near the crescent moon (4.8d, 28%), one hour after sunset. The moon is over 22° up in the south-southwest, 5.4° to the lower left of Saturn. The Jupiter – Saturn gap is 3.3°. The planetary duo’s place in the triangle with 56 Sgr continues to change each evening. This evening Saturn is 2.8° to the left of the star, while Jupiter is 2.1° below. Jupiter is 3.4° above 52 Sgr. Farther east, Mars is nearly 32° in altitude in the east-southeast, 2.8° to the lower right of ε Psc and 2.9° to the lower left of δ Psc.
For more about the Great Conjunction, read our feature article. This is the closest Jupiter – Saturn conjunction since 1623.
Read more about the planets during November.
LATEST ARTICLES
- 2024, May 13: Moon Visits Beehive
May 13, 2024: The moon is near the Beehive star cluster after sundown. Mars and Saturn shine during morning twilight. Uranus is at solar conjunction. - 2024, May 12: Crescent Moon-Pollux Conjunction
May 12, 2024: The crescent moon appears next to Pollux after sunset, a Moon-Pollux conjunction. Two morning planets shine from the eastern sky before sunrise. - 2024, May 11: Sirius Heliacal Setting
May 11, 2024: Sirius makes its last appearance or heliacal setting at the mid-northern latitudes. Mars and Saturn are visible before sunrise, Moon after sundown. - 2024, May 10: Mercury’s Poor Morning View
May 10, 2024: Mercury is difficult to see before sunrise, although Saturn and Mars are easier to locate. The crescent moon is in the west-northwest after sundown. - 2024, May 9: May Evening Earthshine
May 9, 2024: Look for earthshine on the moon’s night portion this evening. Mars and Saturn are morning planets.
