September 15-17, 2025: Before sunrise, watch the crescent moon pass Jupiter near Pollux in Gemini. The moon moves eastward toward Venus and Regulus for a rare gathering on September 19.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
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Venus, Moon, Pollux before Sunrise
As the moon targets Venus and Regulus for a rare, close gathering on the 19th, it passes Jupiter. The moon’s phase is waning, from 39% illumination on the 15th to 19% on the 17th.
During recent mornings, bright moonlight has washed out Uranus and Neptune. These planets are becoming easier to see through a binocular.
Jupiter and Gemini
Jupiter slowly moves eastward in front of Gemini, near Pollux, one of the Twins. The star is nearly 7° above the ecliptic, too far from the solar system’s plane for close conjunctions with the bright planets. Of the bright solar system bodies, the moon can pass a few degrees below it.
Jupiter-Pollux Triple Conjunction
Jupiter has a triple conjunction with Pollux, meaning that the planet passes the star three times. The first conjunction occurs October 10th, when the Jovian Giant passes 6.6° from the star. The second occurs on December 13th, after Jupiter’s retrograde begins. The final conjunction occurs on May 28, 2026, after Jupiter’s direct (eastward) motion resumes.
Jupiter revolves around the sun about every 12 years. After this triple conjunction series, the next conjunction with Pollux occurs on September 11, 2037.
Pretty Grouping in 2026
In the current apparition, any grouping of Jupiter, Moon, and Pollux could be considered a rare event. Later next spring, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Moon, and Pollux huddle near each other. On June 16th, 2026, the group spans 13.9°, too wide to fit into a standard 7.5° binocular field, but noteworthy. The next evening, they span 16.9°. With the moon displaying earthshine and 2.9° to Venus’ upper left, this is a photogenic event worth noting in a calendar.
Jupiter, Moon, Pollux: September 15-17
Step outside and look eastward 45 minutes before sunrise. The crescent moon and bright Jupiter are in the east-southeast.
- September 15: The crescent moon is high in the sky, nearly 15° to Jupiter’s right. The planet is 7.4° to Pollux’s upper right.
- September 16: The crescent moon is nearly between Jupiter and Pollux. They fit tightly into the same binocular field of view.
- September 17: The moon, 19% illuminated, is 13.5° to the lower left of Jupiter and nearly 25° to Venus’ upper right. The Jupiter- Pollux gap is 7.4°.
Each lunation (lunar cycle), watch the moon pass Jupiter and Pollux, until they disappear into bright sunlight next year. During the next few mornings watch the lunar crescent pass Jupiter and move toward the rare gathering with Venus and Regulus.
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