July 3, 2024: This month’s Jupiter-Moon conjunction occurs low in the east-northeast during morning twilight. Jupiter, Moon, and Aldebaran form a rare close grouping.
Rare Morning Gathering
In a striking conjunction this morning, the crescent moon is near Jupiter in the east-northeast before sunrise. In a rare gathering of Jupiter, Moon, and the star Aldebaran, Taurus’ brightest, the three are not this close together again until June 22, 2036. This morning, the gathering of three fits into a circle 9.4° across.
During the next 11 months, the moon passes nearby but the three are more widely separated. During the intervening years, Jupiter moves away from the star, taking over 11 years to return to this region of the sky.
At the 2036 gathering, Jupiter, crescent moon, and Aldebaran fit into a circle 5.5° across. Venus is nearby and enlarges the circle to 9.5°.
This morning, step outside an hour before daybreak and find a clear horizon toward the east-northeast. The crescent moon, 7% illuminated, is about 15° above the horizon. Bright Jupiter is 4.7° to the moon’s lower right. Aldebaran is 5.0° below Jupiter.
Jupiter and the moon or Jupiter and Aldebaran easily fit into the same binocular field of view, but the three celestial bodies are too far apart for all of them to fit together.
Earthshine
Some earthshine, a reflection from Earth’s features, softly lights up the lunar night between the cusps or horns. Earthshine’s effect is somewhat muted by the low altitude and the brighter twilight near the horizon.
Hold the binocular steadily to look for up to four of Jupiter’s largest moons. Their view is affected by the planet’s low altitude and the blurring effects of Earth’s atmosphere.
During the next lunation when the moon passes by Jupiter, they do not appear in the same binocular field of view.
On August 27th, two lunations in the future, the moon, 40% illuminated, again appears with Jupiter in the same binocular field.
Planet-Moon Conjunctions
A crescent moon near a bright planet or star is a picturesque scene. Don’t miss this morning’s view of the conjunction with Jupiter and a thin crescent moon. Spot the rare close gathering of Jupiter, Moon and Aldebaran.
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