Halloween masqueraders to be treated to bright celestial meet-up in the sky
By
Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist
Published Oct 29, 2019 1:58 PM EDT
Looking for something to add on the night of trick-or-treating? Catch a celestial meetup between the moon and Jupiter on Halloween night.
Trick-or-treaters heading out to collect candy on Halloween can look up in the evening sky to see the moon make a close encounter with one of the brightest planets in the sky.
As the sun sets on Thursday evening, people looking to the southwestern sky will be able to see the crescent moon glowing just to the left of Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system.
No telescope is required to see the celestial meet-up, but having one will reveal greater details of the moon’s craters as well as the largest moons orbiting Jupiter.
A crescent moon is seen with the planet Jupiter in the sky over Amman Dec. 1, 2008. Photo/REUTERS/Ali Jarekji (JORDAN))
(Photo/REUTERS/Ali Jarekji (JORDAN))
Not only will people be able to see Jupiter on Thursday evening, but they will also be able to spot Venus and Mercury, as long as there is a clear, unobstructed view of the horizon.
Venus will be the brighter of the two planets and will serve as a reference point to find the elusive Mercury, which is one of the most difficult planets to spot due to its close proximity to the sun. The two will be very low on the horizon after sunset with Mercury sitting just below Venus.
Saturn will also be shining in the southwestern sky, above and to the left of Jupiter and the moon.
Where Jupiter, Venus, Mercury and the moon will be in the southwestern sky every evening through Oct. 31. (Image/EarthSky.org)
Next year, Halloween may seem extra spooky as trick-or-treaters head out into their neighborhoods to collect candy under the light of a full moon.
A full moon falls on Halloween night about once every 19 years. After 2020, the next time that a full moon rises on Oct. 31 will not be until 2039.
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Halloween masqueraders to be treated to bright celestial meet-up in the sky
By Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist
Published Oct 29, 2019 1:58 PM EDT
Looking for something to add on the night of trick-or-treating? Catch a celestial meetup between the moon and Jupiter on Halloween night.
Trick-or-treaters heading out to collect candy on Halloween can look up in the evening sky to see the moon make a close encounter with one of the brightest planets in the sky.
As the sun sets on Thursday evening, people looking to the southwestern sky will be able to see the crescent moon glowing just to the left of Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system.
No telescope is required to see the celestial meet-up, but having one will reveal greater details of the moon’s craters as well as the largest moons orbiting Jupiter.
A crescent moon is seen with the planet Jupiter in the sky over Amman Dec. 1, 2008. Photo/REUTERS/Ali Jarekji (JORDAN))
Not only will people be able to see Jupiter on Thursday evening, but they will also be able to spot Venus and Mercury, as long as there is a clear, unobstructed view of the horizon.
Venus will be the brighter of the two planets and will serve as a reference point to find the elusive Mercury, which is one of the most difficult planets to spot due to its close proximity to the sun. The two will be very low on the horizon after sunset with Mercury sitting just below Venus.
Saturn will also be shining in the southwestern sky, above and to the left of Jupiter and the moon.
Where Jupiter, Venus, Mercury and the moon will be in the southwestern sky every evening through Oct. 31. (Image/EarthSky.org)
Next year, Halloween may seem extra spooky as trick-or-treaters head out into their neighborhoods to collect candy under the light of a full moon.
A full moon falls on Halloween night about once every 19 years. After 2020, the next time that a full moon rises on Oct. 31 will not be until 2039.
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