Moon and Jupiter shine midnight to dawn
Discuss Print Me Email to FriendTonight's Sky for Thursday, May 22 2008
You might see the waning gibbous moon and the planet Jupiter rising above your southeast horizon around midnight tonight, if your horizon is unobstructed and your sky is clear.
During the predawn hours on Friday, these celestial bodies will be much higher in the sky and easier to see. Look for them in the south before dawn.
Other than the sun and the moon, Jupiter is the brightest celestial body to adorn Earth’s sky right now. But that’s only because Venus – the brightest of all planets – is swinging behind the sun as seen from Earth. Venus will pass directly behind the sun on June 9, and at that point it’ll transition from the morning to the evening sky. We’ll see Venus again at evening dusk in early July.
Until then, Jupiter reigns supreme. This planet will be rising steadily earlier over the coming month, bringing it over the horizon at a more convenient time for viewing.
Jupiter shines in the eastern part of the constellation Sagittarius, to the east (or left) of the Teapot – a famous grouping of stars in western Sagittarius. Annually, the sun passes in front of the constellation Sagittarius from about December 18 to January 18. Right now, Jupiter is showing you where the sun resides in front of this backdrop of stars on or near January 12.
