Jupiter And Moon Conjunction Tonight
by Kevin Brown : last updated: September 29, 2009Welcome back!
Moon Jupiter Conjunction Sept 29th 2009 (click for larger image)
Lovely close conjunction (appulse, for some) of the Moon and planet Jupiter tonight.
The Moon appears to be about half a degree in diameter to us on Earth, so tonight, Jupiter is about half degree from the Moon.
I have just captured the image on the right from the UK, with my Canon dSLR camera, using its 18-55 mm standard lens.
If you are in the United States for example, this view of the Moon and Jupiter conjunction is coming towards you NOW!
So I suggest you get outside tonight, and take a look!
It’s rare to be able to see the Solar System’s giant planet Jupiter, so close to our Moon.
You’ll also notice the waxing gibbous Moon (as it’s called). This means it’s getting close to full.. the full “Harvest Moon” will be seen on Sunday October 4th.
So, best of luck.
Post a comment here, if you also manage to observe this wonderful spectacle tonight.
Hi. I was searching on my phone to find the planet close to the moon tonight (I initially assumed it was Venus and guessed Jupiter when I came up nothIng) when I found your site. Thanks for the post and photo. Cheers from a fellow amateur astonomer
I am so excited. I knew soon as I saw the Moon
tonight a planetary conjunction was taking place.
I just didn’t know which planet is being so close
to the moon tonight. So, I had to do a search on
the internet to find out. I’m sorry I don’t have
the means to take a picture of tonight’s fantastic
conjunction.
Hi,
We’re only lay astronomers and hardly even that…Just look up at the sky once in a while. My husband called my attention to the moon and “star” tonight, and wondered what planet. He said Saturn and I, Jupiter. Then I googled a bit and clicked on your URL. When we saw the scene about 11:45 CDST in Arkansas, Jupiter was centered directly below the moon in a slightly hazy sky. My middle son’s birthday is Oct. 4, so his day and night at 47 should be one of his brightest ever.
My neighbors and I were having dessert in our courtyard around sunset. About an hour after sunset (2200 UTC) we noticed the conjunction. I guessed that the bright object was Jupiter. Thanks for confirming.
It looked great!