November 8-11, 2025: The waning gibbous moon shines high in the morning sky as it approaches and passes Jupiter in front of Gemini. Watch the moon’s changing phase and position as it moves eastward through the stars.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
The waning gibbous moon shines from high in the sky during morning twilight. Rising later each night, it is nicely placed to watch it approach and pass Jupiter.
Step outside an hour before sunrise. The bright moon is high in the sky. Jupiter is in the southwest, near the Gemini Twins, 6.8° to Pollux’s lower left.
The Jovian Giant rambles eastward in front of the constellation, though it is slowing to begin the illusion of retrograde.
Here’s What to See
- November 8: The gibbous moon, 88% illuminated, is over halfway up in the west. Jupiter is nearly 30° to the lunar orb’s upper left.
- November 9: Farther eastward than yesterday, the moon (79%) is high in the west-southwest, nearly 15° from Jupiter.
- November 10: The gibbous moon (69%) is nearly between Jupiter and Pollux. It is 3.6° above Jupiter and 4.2° to Pollux’ lower left. The three celestial wonders tightly fit into a binocular field of view.
- November 11: Nearing the Last Quarter phase, the moon is high in the south, nearly 15° to Jupiter’s upper left. The morning half phase occurs at 11:28 p.m. Central Time. The lunar orb is in the same binocular field with the Beehive star cluster, though the phase is too bright to see the cluster’s dimmer stars.
During twilight over the four mornings, watch the moon wane as it appears farther eastward each morning.
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