Jupiter and Neptune will join the full moon in the night sky on Saturday (September 10).
the full moon will be visible at 5:58 a.m. EDT (0958 GMT) on Saturday (September 10). The moon is visible for most of the night at this time of the month, rising near dusk and setting just before dawn. The moon officially becomes a full moon when it appears in the sky completely opposite (180 degrees) to the sun.
The full moon in September is also called the harvest moon in the northern hemisphere, since this full moon falls near the autumn equinox, which traditionally marks the beginning of the harvest season. This month’s full moon will also appear in the sky near two of its celestial companions in our solar system, Jupiter and Neptune.
related: Harvest Moon 2022: When and how to see the September full moon
Jupiter will appear particularly bright this month because it is at opposition, which means that Earth is between the giant planet and Sun. Jupiter will be bright enough throughout the month to be visible to the naked eye, but will make a spectacular view through binoculars or a backyard telescope. Jupiter will appear about 8 degrees to the left of the moon at midnight, then shift to about 6 degrees above the moon at 5:47 a.m. EDT (0947 GMT), according to NASA Science Daily Skywatching Guide (opens in a new tab). (A fist at arm’s length corresponds roughly to 10 degrees in the sky.)
Neptune will also appear in the sky, although the distant ice giant will not be as bright and visible as Jupiter. Neptune It will rise just after 10:00 p.m. EDT (02:00 GMT on September 11) and travel west across the sky toward stars in the southeast of the aries constellation. The planet will be about 4.5 degrees northwest of the moon, but another way to spot Neptune will be to look for the mid-brightness star 20 Piscium, a few finger widths above the moon; Neptune will be just to the west of it.
Neptune will be a bit faint at magnitude 7.8, and the bright full moon will make it even harder to see; Neptune will be somewhat brighter on the following nights and will be at its brightest when it reaches opposition on Friday, September 2. sixteen.
You can consult our guides for the best binoculars and the best telescopes to detect the Harvest Moon, Jupiter, Neptune or any other celestial object in the night sky. If you’re hoping to capture a good photo of the moon, check out our recommendations for the best cameras for astrophotography Y best lenses for astrophotography.
editor’s note: If you take a photo of the Harvest Moon near Jupiter and Neptune and would like to share it with Space.com readers, please send your photos, comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.
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