This is a weekend for two of the largest planets in our solar system, Jupiter and Saturn. Appearing between the two, the moon will help you spot them in the southern sky.

 

Venture outside tonight in the early evening and you’ll see the gibbous moon a short distance from the bright planet Jupiter, both in proximity to the zodiacal constellation Scorpius. Jupiter outshines all others.

 

Go back outside tomorrow night and the moon will have advanced closer to the bright planet Saturn and together they appear in the zodiacal constellation Sagittarius.

 

The moon spends the weekend between these two celestial giants. Jupiter is 465 million miles away. Saturn is 874 million miles away. The moon will appear still close to Saturn on Sunday night, but it will be to the east.

 

Jupiter and Saturn are getting closer together. Next year they will be considerably closer. They’ll be a spectacle to see in the summer of 2020, so close as to draw attention.