November 9-11, 2024: The gibbous moon passes Saturn in the southeastern sky after sunset. Saturn is one of four bright planets that are visible during the nighttime.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
During the next few evenings, the moon appears farther eastward, passing Saturn on the 10th. Saturn is visible in the southeastern sky after sundown.
Nightly Planet Display
The Ringed Wonder is part of a bright planetary quartet that is visible during the night. Mercury is not part of the nightly planetary display, yet, as it sets during brighter evening twilight.
After sunset, look for brilliant Venus in the southwest as the sky darkens. Stepping eastward against Sagittarius, it sets later each night. Farther eastward, Saturn is near the moon.
Jupiter rises in the east-northeast less than two hours after sunset and before Venus sets. The viewing window to see the two planets simultaneously gains about five minutes each evening.
Jupiter and Mars
Mars rises over three hours after Jupiter. The pair is in the eastern sky near midnight.
During morning twilight, Jupiter is in the western sky, while Mars is high in the southern sky. Use a binocular to see the Red Planet near the Beehive star cluster.
Moon Passes Saturn
Here’s what to look for with the moon during the next few evenings at one hour after sunset:
November 9: The gibbous moon, 58% illuminated, is one-third of the way from the south-southeast horizon to overhead. It is 3.7° to the lower left of Deneb Algedi, Capricornus’ tail, and over 15° to Saturn’s lower right.
November 10: The moon, 69% illuminated is east of last night’s place. Look carefully for Saturn, 1.5° to the lunar orb’s upper left. While not as bright as Venus or Jupiter, it is the brightest star in the region. Block the moon with your hand as you would to shield your eyes from the sun or use a binocular to see the planet. The moon occults or eclipses Saturn from southern Florida, the Caribbean basin, Central America, and northwestern South America.
From North America, the moon slowly moves eastward compared to Saturn and the distant starfield. The lunar orb passes Saturn at 8:30 p.m. Central Time.
The moon slowly moves eastward compared to Saturn and the distant starfield. The lunar orb passes Saturn at 8:30 p.m. Central Time.
November 11: The lunar orb, 79% illuminated, is 30° above the southeast horizon and over 13° to Saturn’s left. Tonight, the moon occults Neptune. A large aperture telescope is needed to see the planet with this bright moonlight. On moonless nights, Neptune is visible through a binocular, but the moonlight overwhelms the dimmer world tonight.
Watch the moon eastward trek along with the nightly planet display.
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