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A half-lit moon illuminates the night sky during the first quarter phase. | Photo: VCG Photo/VCG via Getty Images
Look to the southeastern horizon a few hours after sunset on November 29 and you'll be able to see the moon shining next to gas giant Saturn while Neptune lurks unseen nearby.
waxing moon will appear half-lit on the night of November 29, just a day after its first quarter phase, as it glows with reflected sunlight under stars constellations Fish. Saturn will appear as bright”evening star“There is an aurora of less than 5 degrees—roughly the width of a clenched fist at arm's length—in the lower right corner of the gas giant.
The nights surrounding the first quarter phase of the Moon provide an excellent opportunity to explore the lunar surface as the line separating night from day, known as the terminator, runs across the lunar surface, bringing craters and mountain ranges into sharp relief. This way, the Moon will look particularly impressive through the eyepiece of a home telescope with an aperture of about 6 inches, which will reveal stunning detail on the Moon's tattered surface. Earthancient comrade.
On the night of November 29, Saturn will be a stunning sight for both the naked eye and telescopic observations. An 8-inch (200 mm) telescope will help reveal the horizontal streaks lining the surface of the clouds. gas giantalthough its iconic ring system is currently positioned almost edge-on to Earth, so through a telescope's eyepiece it appears as little more than a thin line bisecting the planet.
Saturn changes direction on the evening of November 29th. Credit & Copyright: Chris Vaughn/Starry Night
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According to data, on the night of November 29, Saturn will complete its “retrograde” movement to the west through the stars of Pisces, after which it will begin to follow the sky to the east. in the sky. Retrograde planetary motion occurs in the weeks and months following opposition as Earth narrows its orbit around Sun causes it to “overtake” more distant worlds, briefly making them appear to be moving “backward” in the night sky.
Neptune will also lurk unseen about 2 degrees below the Moon on the night of November 29, although it will be too dim to be seen with the naked eye. Under ideal conditions, a telescope with 8″ aperture or more can reveal the presence of a planet as a tiny blue dot against the blackness of space. However, light from the nearby waxing moon may make it more difficult than usual to spot the distant world on November 29th.
Do you want to explore the lunar seas and ancient craters of the Moon on your own? Then be sure to check out our review best telescopes to observe the night sky in 2025.
Editor's note: If you'd like to share your lunar astrophotography with Space.com readers, send your photos and comments, along with your name and location, to [email protected].
