On Wednesday night, a few hours after sunset, the gibbous moon rises in the eastern sky, accompanied by the bright planet Jupiter. These two celestial objects are in Virgo, a constellation we associate with spring.

Jupiter is the brightest planet in the late evening sky. The planet is 511 million miles away and getting closer. Jupiter will have a much more prominent role in our evening sky in spring and summer when it appears high in the east in the early evening. Now, Jupiter is a late night fixture, not rising until well into the late evening.

For the weeks ahead, Jupiter appears fairly close to the bright star Spica, the principal star in the constellation. As the moon moves away, Jupiter and Spica make a nice pair. Spica is one of the brightest stars in the night sky. It is alone in a field of not so bright stars.

The moon rises an hour later on Thursday night, shining in the last quarter phase. The moon, Jupiter and Spica form a beautiful tight triangle.