November 9 – 12, 2021: The moon skips past Jupiter and Saturn during the evenings of November 9, 10, 11, and 12.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
The moon, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn are in the evening sky. During the next few evenings, the moon passes Saturn and Jupiter.
Step outside about an hour after sunset. Starting in the southwest, brilliant Venus gleams from low in the sky. Saturn, about one-third of the way up in the south, is over 30° to the upper left of Venus. Bright Jupiter is 15° to the left of Saturn. Depending on the evening, the moon is in the region. Note the star Fomalhaut, over 20° to the lower left of Jupiter.
Here’s what to look for each evening after sundown.
November 9: The moon – 33% illuminated – is over 20° to the upper left of brilliant Evening Star Venus and nearly 11° to the lower right of Saturn.
November 10: The waxing crescent moon is 6.3° to the lower left of Saturn and 12.5° to the lower right of Jupiter.
November 11: The moon is at its First Quarter phase at 6:46 a.m. CST. This evening, the slightly gibbous moon is 5.3° to the lower left of bright Jupiter.
November 12: The moon continues to wax (grow in phase) and step farther eastward. The gibbous moon – 65% illuminated – is 15.8° to the lower left of Jupiter.
Each evening, note the moon’s growing brightness, blotting out dimmer stars, and brightens the ground.
2021, November 9 – 12: The moon passes Jupiter and Saturn after sunset. The chart shows the southern sky at one hour after sunset.
RECENT PODCASTS
LATEST ARTICLES
- 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. - 2024, May 8: Mars at Perihelion
2024, May 8: Mars is at Perihelion today, its closest point to the sun. Find it before sunrise in the eastern sky. - 2024, May 7: Mars and Saturn are Morning Planets
May 7, 2024: Shining from the eastern sky before sunrise, Mars and Saturn are morning planets. Look for stars Arcturus and Spica after sundown. - 2024, May 6: Look for Mercury and the Moon
May 6, 2024: Look for Mercury and the moon with a binocular during morning twilight. Mars and Saturn are visible earlier during predawn light when the sky is darker. - 2024, May 5: Spring’s Mid-Point, Moon near Mars
May 5, 2024: Today is spring’s mid-point. The moon is near Mars and Saturn before sunrise. Bright stars are nearing their heliacal settings after sundown.
