2024, September 24: Moon with Jupiter and Mars

September 24, 2024: Before sunrise, the nearly half-full moon is near bright Jupiter and Mars.  Venus and Saturn are visible after sundown.

Moon joins Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn, March 17, 2020
Photo Caption – 2020, March 17: The moon approaches Jupiter and Mars as Mars closes in for its March 20 conjunction with Jupiter.

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by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 6:41 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 6:43 p.m. CDT.  Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program.

See Four Bright Planets Nightly

A comparison of Venus, Earth, Moon and Mars. (NASA)
Chart Caption – A comparison of Venus, Earth, Moon and Mars. (NASA)

Four bright planets are visible during nighttime hours.  Venus begins the nightly planet parade. The Evening Star is low in the west-southeast after sundown.  As the sky darkens further, Saturn is in the east-southeast.  While not dazzling like Venus or Jupiter, it is the brightest star in the region.  Bright Jupiter and Mars are visible near the moon before sunrise.

Here is today’s sky watching highlight:

Moon with Jupiter and Mars
Chart Caption – 2024, September 24: Bright Jupiter and Mars appear near the moon during morning twilight.

Step outside an hour before daybreak, the slightly gibbous moon, 54% illuminated, is high in the southeast.  It appears in front of a bright congregation of stars.

Resembling a bright star, Jupiter is 8.9° to the lunar orb’s lower right, while Elnath, Taurus’ northern horn, is 4.9° to the moon’s upper right.

The Gemini Twins, Castor and Pollux, are over 23° to the moon’s lower left.

Mars, marching eastward in front of Gemini, is nearly 15° to the moon’s lower left and over 13° to the Twins’ right.

Later today, the moon is at the morning half-full moon phase, known as Last Quarter, at 1:50 p.m. Central Time

Tomorrow morning, the moon is near Mars.

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