Moon Passing Jupiter This Sunday and Monday

For anyone who has a telescope, look up in the night sky tonight (Feb. 17) and Monday when the moon will be passing planet Jupiter. The celestial bodies have been meeting many times, but this will be the closest the two have ever met.

Space.com reports:

It is a much different story in February, however. The moon will make its closest approach to Jupiter on Monday morning (Feb. 18) at 7 a.m. EST (1200 GMT/4 a.m. PST). Unfortunately, both the moon and Jupiter will be below the horizon for North America, which means the best observers here can do is see the moon as it approaches Jupiter on this evening, and then follow up Monday night as the moon recedes from Jupiter.

Tonight, the moon will be just past first quarter phase. At mid-twilight, roughly 45 minutes after sunset, look high in the south, more than two-thirds of the way up from the horizon to the point directly overhead (the zenith) and — weather permitting — you’ll see the moon and hovering about 6 degrees above and to its left will be brilliant Jupiter. Your clenched fist held at arm’s length measures 10 degrees, so the moon and Jupiter will appear rough half a fist apart.

Video: The Moon and Jupiter converged for a heavenly sky show on Christmas 2012.