See Jupiter and the moon make a close approach in tonight's sky

[Judi Lynn]

By Joe Rao about 7 hours ago

Step outside around 45 minutes after sunset on Saturday evening (Aug. 21) and in a single glance you'll be able to partake in a gathering of the moon and the biggest planet of our solar system, very low in the east-southeast sky.

Assuming your skies are reasonably ​clear, you'll be able to see the moon passing near to the planet Jupiter. By about 10:30 p.m. local daylight time, the eye-catching celestial duo will be visible, roughly one-quarter up from the southeast horizon to the point directly overhead (called the zenith). The moon will be less than 12 hours from officially turning full and will be situated to the lower right of Jupiter, a distance of roughly 5 degrees.

That's equal to about ten times the apparent size of the moon, and that means you should be able to fit at least 10 full moons in the gap between them in Saturday's evening sky. And yet when you see them in the sky, they'll be seemingly much closer together because the moon appears normally twice as big to our eyes compared to what its half-degree size would otherwise suggest; indeed, an incredible illusion!



This sky map shows the view from New York City of the moon, Jupiter and Saturn on Saturday (Aug. 21) at 10 p.m. local time. (Image credit: SkySafari app)

Point this "dynamic duo" out to your friends on Saturday evening and ask them to estimate how many moons would fit in the gap between Jupiter and the moon. Likely their response will be something like "Four ... maybe five." Then watch the look of incredulity that spreads across their face when you reveal that the correct answer is closer to 10.

More:
https://www.space.com/jupiter-moon-conjunction-august-2021-skywatching?utm_source=notification

[liberal N proud]

1. Saw them fairly close last night.