Jupiter and the moon take a sunset stroll on March 26. Here’s how to see it
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The Moon shines near Jupiter in April 2025. | Credit: Alan Dyer/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Look east at sunset tomorrow (March 26) to see the half-lit shape of the waxing gibbous moon shining near the gas giant Jupiter in the evening sky, while the bright stars of the Gemini constellation twinkle nearby.
the moon will make its closest approach to Jupiter at 9:19 a.m. EDT (1:19 p.m. GMT) on March 26, at which point Jupiter will be lost to view in the daytime sky. The duo, however, will remain close throughout the evening. Viewers in the northern hemisphere will enjoy the best possible view of solar system pairing at sunset, when the moon will appear with its right side lit by sunlight above the southern horizon, less than a day after reaching its first quarter phase.
Jupiter will appear as a stable star-like object shining brightly 5 degrees to the lower right of the lunar disk – about the width of your three middle fingers held at arm’s length against the sky. Top right, shine Beaver And Pollux — the bright stars which represent the heads of the celestial twins depicted in the Gemini constellation.
The Moon and Jupiter will provide a magnificent view through the eyepiece of a 6-inch telescope, which will reveal the dark lunar seas and prominent craters lining the night-day boundary on the lunar surface, as well as the cloud bands of the lunar surface. gas giant and its most important moons.
As the night progresses, the lunar disk will appear to move away from Jupiter in Earthfrom the sky, before finally disappearing from view below the northwest horizon shortly after 3 a.m. EDT (0700 GMT) for viewers in New York. Visit Time and date to find out the exact times that solar system bodies, like the planets, rise and set from your location.
Jupiter is expected to remain a prominent sight in the spring sky until mid-July, when it will fade into the glow of the setting sun ahead of its solar conjunction on July 29. according to the sky. At that time, Jupiter will be too close to the sun from our perspective on Earth to be visible.
Want to get a closer look at the Moon and Jupiter? So don’t forget to check out our selections of best telescopes and binoculars to explore the night sky. If you like photography, you might also want to read our picks for the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography, as well as our roundup of the best smart telescopes available in 2026.
Editor’s note: If you would like to share your astrophotography with Space.com readers, please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.
