January 8-11, 2025: The waxing moon approaches and passes Jupiter in the southeastern sky during the early evening.
By Jeffrey L. Hunt
Events are described relative to sunset. Find sunset times in local sources.
Evening Waxing Moon
The waxing gibbous moon is in the southeastern sky during the early evening. It approaches and passes Jupiter during these evenings.
Moon Passes Jupiter
Here’s what to see at two hours after sundown:
The bright gibbous moon is in the southeastern sky. Bright Jupiter is nearby, slowly retrograding in front of Taurus, to Aldebaran’s upper left.
- December 8: The moon, 73% illuminated, is high in the south-southeast. Tonight, it is 10.2° to Hamal’s lower left, Aries’ brightest star and less than 30° to Jupiter’s upper right.
- December 9: The gibbous moon, 82% illuminated, is in the southeast, less than 15° to Jupiter’s upper right. Sky watchers in Europe and North America can see the moon occult or eclipse the Pleiades star cluster. In Chicago, for example, the occultation of Alcyone, the cluster’s brightest star begins at 6:55 p.m. Central Time. The star reappears at 8:13 p.m. The bright moon may overwhelm the cluster’s stars. Use a binocular or spotting scope.
- December 10: The bright moon, 90% illuminated, is in the east-southeast, 5.4° to Jupiter’s upper left and 10.7° from Aldebaran.
- December 11: Approaching the Full moon phase and an eclipse of Mars in two nights, the lunar orb is about halfway up in the east and 5.5° to Elnath’s lower left, the Bull’s northern horn. For sky watchers in Australia, Indonesia, and southern India, the moon occults the star.
During the four nights the moon waxes toward the Full moon phase while it approaches and passes Jupiter, occulting the Pleiades and moving toward a similar event with Mars on the 13th.
2025, December 8-11: The waxing moon approaches and passes Jupiter, occulting the Pleiades on the night of December 9th.
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