2026, November 19-21: Waxing Gibbous Moon Passes Saturn

November 19-21, 2026: Watch the waxing gibbous Moon pass Saturn. Follow their changing positions and view Saturn’s slightly tilted rings through a telescope.

Jupiter, Saturn and the moon, November 18, 2020
Photo Caption – 2020, November 18: The crescent moon is low in the southwest, 6.8° to the lower right of Jupiter. Saturn is 3.4° to the upper left of Jupiter.

by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Moon Passes Saturn After Sunset

The waxing gibbous moon passes Saturn in the southeastern sky after sunset.

Step outside an hour after sundown. The bright moon is in the southeastern sky near Saturn. The moon waxes toward the Full Beaver moon on November 24.

Like all the planets, Saturn is starlike to the eye.  Not as bright as brilliant Venus or Jupiter, it is in the brightest “star’ in the region. 

The Ringed Wonder retrogrades in front of Cetus.  This apparent westward motion ends on December 10.

A telescope reveals its rings, which are tilted about 10° along the line of sight.  It’s like looking at the edge of a plate that is tilted upward slightly.  The direct view is toward the subtle cloud bands in the southern hemisphere.

The Highlights

Saturn, Moon, November 19-21, 2026
Chart Caption – 2026, November 19-21: An hour after sunset, the waxing gibbous moon passes Saturn in the southeastern sky.

Here’s what to see on these three nights:

  • November 19: The waxing gibbous moon, 74% illuminated, is 40°, less than halfway from the horizon to overhead, and 12.6° to Saturn’s upper right.
  • November 20: The lunar orb, 83% illuminated, is over 35° above the east-southeast horizon, 5.7° to Saturn’s upper left.
  • November 21: The moon, 91% illuminated, is 30° above the east-southeast horizon.  Tonight’s gap to Saturn is nearly 17°.  The moon is to Saturn’s left.

Watch the moon wax toward the Full moon passing Saturn as it appears farther eastward.

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