August 27, 2024: Bright Jupiter, Mars, and the crescent moon gather in the eastern sky before daybreak. Saturn and Venus are visible during nighttime hours.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Jupiter, Mars, and Moon Gather
This morning, Jupiter, Mars, and crescent moon gather in the eastern sky before sunrise. Step outside an hour before daybreak, the crescent moon, 39% illuminated, is over halfway up in the east-southeast. It is 5.3° to Jupiter’s upper left, the brightest starlike body in this morning’s sky, and 8.3° to Mars’ upper right.
Jupiter plods eastward in front of Taurus, 9.6° to Aldebaran’s lower left, the Bull’s brightest star.
After their conjunction on the 14th, Mars marches eastward, 6.4° to Jupiter’s lower left. The planet passes 2.0° to Zeta Tauri’s upper left, the Bull’s southern horn. It is east of an imaginary line between Elnath and Zeta Tauri. It crosses the boundary into Gemini on September 6th.
When describing the events of a conjunction, the gap between planets, planet and moon, or moon and star, is measured.
When three or more bodies are near each other, a circle is used to describe the separation of the bodies. A standard binocular has a field of view of 7.5°, a circle with that diameter. This morning’s gathering is 8.6° in diameter and last month’s Jupiter-Mars-Moon gathering was 8.5°, both too large to fit into the same field of view.
Future Gatherings
After this morning’s gathering, Mars marches away from Jupiter, widening a gap each morning. The Red Planet travels through the zodiac and overtakes the Jovian Giant again during 2026. While the moon passes each planet every lunation – set of lunar phases – the three bodies are not this close again until 2026. The next Jupiter-Mars conjunction occurs on November 16, 2026.
By looking during a 60-day window centered on the conjunction date, two close gatherings occur.
Two weeks before the conjunction on November 2, 2026, Jupiter, Mars, and the moon gather in a 6.5° circle that fits into a binocular field.
This is followed by a closer gathering that includes Regulus, Leo’s brightest star, on November 30th, two weeks after the planets’ conjunction. The four celestial bodies fit into a circle 5.2° across.
Venus is in the sky to the lower left of the 2026 gathering. It passes Spica, over 50° to Regulus’ lower left on November 15, 2026.
Take a look for this morning’s gathering before sunrise.
RECENT PODCASTS
LATEST ARTICLES
- 2026, July 31: Mercury Nears Greatest Elongation: How to Find the Elusive Planet Before Sunrise
July 31, 2026: Mercury reaches greatest elongation in two mornings. Learn how to locate the Elusive Planet low in the east-northeast sky before sunrise using a binocular and terrestrial reference points. - 2026, July 30: Planet Highlights – Buck Moon, Saturn, Mars, and Venus
July 30, 2026: The Buck Moon remains bright while Saturn shines before sunrise, Mars approaches Taurus’ horns, and brilliant Venus dominates the western evening sky. - 2026, July 29: Jupiter Begins a New Apparition After Solar Conjunction
July 29, 2026: Jupiter reaches solar conjunction and begins a new morning apparition. Learn when the Jovian Giant returns to view and the key events of its next observing cycle. - 2026, July 28: Orion Returns to the Morning Sky While Mars Approaches Taurus’ Horns
July 28, 2026: Orion reappears in the predawn eastern sky while Mars advances toward Taurus’ horns. Learn where to find the Hunter and follow Mars’ changing position before sunrise. - 2026, July 26-29: Full Buck Moon Shines Near Sagittarius and Capricornus
July 26-29, 2026: Follow the Full Buck moon as it brightens summer evenings near Sagittarius and Capricornus. Learn when opposition occurs and where to find the moon during its brightest nights.