Bright “Star” Next to Moon: What Is Next to the Moon Tonight?
A bright planet near the Moon — what a beautiful sight, easily visible to the naked eye! Want to know if Venus or Jupiter is close to the Moon tonight? Use the free Sky Tonight app! Featuring an astronomical calendar, it can also identify any bright dot near the Moon in real time. Check out this article to learn about the upcoming Moon-planet conjunctions.
Contents
- What’s next to the Moon tonight?
- What do astronomers call the approach of the Moon to the planet?
- Observations
- What planet is next to the Moon tonight? August 2026
- What planet is closest to the Moon in the sky: Bottom line
What’s next to the Moon tonight?
On August 31, the most prominent object near the Moon will be the planet Saturn (mag 0.5) in the constellation Pisces.
Then, from September 1 to 3, the Moon will pass through the constellation Aries, where the brightest star near our natural satellite will be Hamal (mag 2.0).
On September 4–5, the Moon will be relatively near the star Aldebaran (mag 0.9) in Taurus. Around the same time, on September 4, the Moon reaches the last quarter phase — one of the best times to photograph crater and mountain relief along the lunar terminator.
Then, on September 6, our natural satellite will pass near the planet Mars (mag 1.3).
On September 7, Mars (mag 1.3) shines relatively close to the Moon in the sky. Another prominent dot nearby is Pollux (mag 1.2) — the brightest star in the constellation Gemini.
On September 8–9, the brightest dot near the Moon is Jupiter (mag –1.8) in Cancer. On September 9, Regulus (mag 1.4) in the constellation Leo is the brightest star near the Moon. Then, our natural satellite becomes much harder to see, since it comes closer to the Sun.
Around the New Moon phase on September 11, at 03:27 GMT, it is practically invisible. The elusive Mercury passing close to the Moon on September 12 is also difficult to see.
On the evening of September 13, you can notice a luminous dot near a thin lunar crescent in the sky — this is Venus (mag –4.7). If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, you can see another prominent dot near the Moon; this is Spica (mag 1.0), the brightest star in the constellation Virgo.
What do astronomers call the approach of the Moon to the planet?
In this article, you'll come across several types of celestial events. They all involve the relative positions of the Moon and celestial objects and occur close together in time. However, they differ in detail. Here is what each one means.
Closest approach (appulse)
Closest approach or appulse happens when two celestial objects have the smallest apparent distance as seen from the Earth. For the Moon and planets, appulse often takes place close to conjunction.
Conjunction
Conjunction occurs when two celestial objects have the same apparent right ascension or ecliptic longitude in the sky. In everyday language, the terms “conjunction” and “closest approach” are often used interchangeably. However, conjunction has a more technical meaning and does not necessarily occur with every appulse.
Moon-planet conjunctions occur frequently. Once every 27.3 days, our natural satellite passes through a narrow part of the sky centered on the ecliptic and encounters planets. Planetary conjunctions are less frequent; you can learn more about them in our separate article.
Occultation
Occultation takes place when a celestial body with a greater apparent diameter passes in front of a body with a smaller apparent diameter; for example, when the Moon passes in front of a star or planet. The occultation of the Sun by the Moon is called a solar eclipse. Each lunar occultation is only visible from some parts of the Earth. That's because the exact position of the Moon in the sky varies by up to 2° at different locations.
Observations
How to spot planets next to the Moon?
Here are some things to keep in mind for successful observations.
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You may miss the exact time of conjunction or closest approach, but don't worry! Even before or after the exact moment of the event, the objects will stay relatively close together, and that's just as worth observing.
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Depending on the angular distance between the objects, some events should be seen with a telescope and some with binoculars. In general, a good 10×50 binocular will give you a 6-7° field of view; for telescopes, this figure varies — it could be less than 1°. You can calculate the field of view of your optics yourself. And, of course, you can also observe an event with the naked eye.
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When the Moon is close to its full phase, it outshines fainter objects, so the planets and stars near the Full Moon may appear not as bright as they usually do.
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A bright object near the Moon can be a star or a planet. To know for sure which one you're seeing, use Sky Tonight: point your device at the object in question, and the app will tell you its name.
Jupiter and Venus (sometimes Mars and Saturn, too) are way brighter than most stars. You can tell the planets apart by their colors:
- Mercury is gray or brownish;
- Venus is pale yellow;
- Mars is pale pink or bright red;
- Jupiter is orange;
- Saturn is gold.
- To identify an object or find out when objects are closest together for your exact location, use the free stargazing tools — Sky Tonight or Star Walk 2.
Sky Tonight app
To identify an object in the sky with the help of Sky Tonight, follow these steps:
Step 1. Open Sky Tonight and point your device at the sky or tap the big blue button. A live representation of what you see in the sky will appear on the screen, and the app will start to follow your movements.
Step 2. Point your device at the part of the sky where the object is located. For convenience, you can limit the visual magnitude so that only those objects that can be seen with the naked eye appear on the screen. To do this, tap the panel at the bottom of the screen and drag the top slider to the left, closer to the eye icon. From this panel, you can also turn on the night mode, change the constellation appearance, and more.
Step 3. Now you can identify the bright object and get information about it by tapping on its name.
You can also watch our detailed video tutorial.
Star Walk 2 app
To identify an object in the sky with the help of Star Walk 2, follow these steps:
Step 1. Open Star Walk 2 and point your device at the sky or tap the compass icon in the top left corner of the screen. A live representation of what you see in the sky will appear on the screen, and the app will start to follow your movements.
Step 2. Point your device at the part of the sky where the object is located. For convenience, drag the slider on the left down until only the objects you can see in the sky remain on the screen.
Step 3. Now you can identify the bright object and get information about it by tapping on its name at the bottom of the screen.
You can also watch our detailed video tutorial. Find more videos in the Tutorials section.
How to photograph the Moon with planets?
You can take a picture of a planet near the Moon with a professional camera or even a smartphone. Here are some tips to help you:
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Check the weather forecast. Open the Sky Tonight app and tap the telescope icon at the bottom. You'll see two tabs — Stargazing Index and Weather. Select the latter and find the date with cloudless weather, so clouds don't interfere with your night of astrophotography.
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Find out when objects are well-placed for your location. In Sky Tonight, tap the magnifier icon at the bottom. Enter the name of the object you're interested in and tap the target icon next to the corresponding search result. When the app shows you the object's location, use the panel at the top to scroll through time and determine the best time to take the picture.
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Set up a frame. Determine the apparent distance between the Moon and the planet and find their altitude using Sky Tonight. Next, define a rectangle large enough to fit everything you want in the frame, but leave yourself some room. Then use a field of view calculator to find the right lens size for the coverage.
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Bring something else into the shot. It could be a tree or a small house, depending on your surroundings. Here is an example of how a target in the foreground improves a shot. Use the AR mode in Sky Tonight to superimpose the image of the night sky on your background. Tap the big blue button on the main screen for this.
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Use a tripod. It will help your camera to stay still and take several pictures from the same angle.
What planet is next to the Moon tonight? August 2026
Here is a quick table of all the planets the Moon passes close to in August 2026.
| Date | Event | Where/when to look | Visibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 3 | Moon near Neptune | Above the eastern horizon from late evening; a small telescope is needed | 🔴 Difficult |
| August 3 | Moon near Saturn | From late evening; look east | 🟢 Good |
| August 7 | Moon near Uranus | Above the eastern horizon from about 2 a.m.; binoculars or a telescope needed | 🟡 Moderate |
| August 9 | Moon near Mars | Above the eastern horizon in the morning | 🟢 Good |
| August 11 | Moon near Mercury | Very low above the eastern horizon shortly before sunrise | 🔴 Difficult |
| August 12 | Moon near Jupiter | The Moon will be invisible, and Jupiter will be difficult or impossible to spot | 🔴 Difficult |
| August 16 | Moon near Venus | Low above the western horizon in bright evening twilight | 🟢 Good |
| August 30 | Moon near Neptune | Above the eastern horizon from late evening; a small telescope is needed | 🔴 Difficult |
| August 31 | Moon near Saturn | From about 10 p.m.; look east | 🟢 Good |
August 30: Moon near Neptune
- Close approach time: 08:45 GMT
- Close approach distance: 4°20′
- Conjunction time: 12:50 GMT
- Conjunction distance: 4°58′
On August 30—31, the waning gibbous Moon will pass near Neptune (mag 7.7) in the constellation Pisces. Start looking for the pair above the eastern horizon from around 11 p.m. local time until morning twilight. The Moon will be easy to find, but Neptune is another story: it is too faint for the naked eye and will require a small telescope.
The Moon will be just two days past full and bright enough to wash out the surrounding sky, making Neptune harder than usual to spot. Much easier to see will be Saturn (mag 0.5), shining nearby and clearly visible to the naked eye.
| City | Best time (local) | Separation | Altitude, Moon / Neptune |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, USA | Aug 30, 5:19 AM | 4.1° | 37° / 35° |
| Los Angeles, USA | Aug 30, 5:29 AM | 4.4° | 39° / 37° |
| Toronto, Canada | Aug 30, 5:34 AM | 4.0° | 36° / 35° |
| London, UK | Aug 30, 4:51 AM | 5.1° | 32° / 32° |
| New Delhi, India | Aug 30, 5:06 AM | 7.2° | 33° / 38° |
| Singapore | Aug 30, 6:16 AM | 8.1° | 30° / 38° |
| Sydney, Australia | Aug 31, 5:21 AM | 7.6° | 24° / 27° |
| Auckland, New Zealand | Aug 31, 5:48 AM | 7.0° | 23° / 26° |
August 31: Moon near Saturn
- Close approach time: 02:35 GMT
- Close approach distance: 6°17′
- Conjunction time: 08:36 GMT
- Conjunction distance: 7°04′
On the night of August 30–31, the waning gibbous Moon will appear near Saturn (mag 0.5) in the constellation Pisces. Look toward the eastern horizon from about 10 p.m. local time. The pair will rise higher as the night goes on and remain visible until sunrise. Saturn will be easy to spot with the naked eye, shining close to the bright Moon.
| City | Best time (local) | Separation | Altitude, Moon / Saturn |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, USA | Aug 30, 9:57 PM | 5.4° | 15° / 10° |
| Los Angeles, USA | Aug 30, 9:51 PM | 5.8° | 14° / 10° |
| Toronto, Canada | Aug 30, 10:20 PM | 5.4° | 15° / 10° |
| London, UK | Aug 31, 2:08 AM | 5.7° | 45° / 39° |
| New Delhi, India | Aug 31, 5:34 AM | 6.6° | 40° / 41° |
| Singapore | Aug 31, 6:40 AM | 7.3° | 35° / 41° |
| Sydney, Australia | Aug 31, 5:50 AM | 8.2° | 19° / 27° |
| Auckland, New Zealand | Aug 31, 10:11 PM | 8.4° | 10° / 17° |
What planet is next to the Moon tonight? September 2026
Here is a quick table of all the planets the Moon passes close to in September 2026.
| Date | Event | Where/when to look | Visibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 3–4 | Moon near Uranus | Before dawn above the eastern horizon; binoculars or a telescope needed | 🟡 Moderate |
| September 6–7 | Moon near Mars | Before dawn above the eastern horizon | 🟢 Good |
| September 8–9 | Moon near Jupiter | Before dawn, low above the eastern horizon | 🟡 Moderate |
| September 12 | Moon near Mercury | Shortly after sunset, extremely low above the western horizon | 🔴 Difficult |
| September 14 | Moon near Venus | After sunset above the western horizon | 🟢 Good |
| September 26–27 | Moon near Neptune | Visible throughout the night; a telescope is needed | 🔴 Difficult |
| September 26–27 | Moon near Saturn | From evening until sunrise | 🟢 Good |
September 3: Moon near Uranus
- Close approach time: 21:31 GMT
- Close approach distance: 5°23′
- Conjunction time: 23:05 GMT
- Conjunction distance: 5°30′
On the morning of September 4, the Moon near its Last Quarter phase will appear near Uranus (mag 5.8) in the constellation Taurus. Look for the objects after local midnight, when they will already be well above the eastern horizon. To spot Uranus, you’ll need binoculars or a telescope.
Observers at mid-northern latitudes will have better viewing conditions, as Uranus will climb higher during the darker part of the night. The Pleiades star cluster will also be nearby.
| City | Time zone | Best time (local) | Separation | Moon altitude | Uranus altitude | Sun altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, USA | EDT (UTC−4) | Sep 4, 4:50 AM | 8.6° | 63° | 63° | −18° |
| Los Angeles, USA | PDT (UTC−7) | Sep 3, 5:02 AM | 7.5° | 76° | 69° | −18° |
| Toronto, Canada | EDT (UTC−4) | Sep 4, 5:03 AM | 8.7° | 60° | 60° | −18° |
| London, UK | BST (UTC+1) | Sep 4, 4:15 AM | 6.1° | 54° | 51° | −18° |
| New Delhi, India | IST (UTC+5:30) | Sep 4, 4:40 AM | 5.4° | 75° | 74° | −18° |
| Singapore | SGT (UTC+8) | Sep 4, 5:51 AM | 5.8° | 63° | 68° | −18° |
| Sydney, Australia | AEST (UTC+10) | Sep 4, 4:47 AM | 6.4° | 29° | 35° | −18° |
| Auckland, New Zealand | NZST (UTC+12) | Sep 4, 5:12 AM | 6.7° | 26° | 32° | −18° |
September 6: Moon near Mars
- Conjunction time: 18:25 GMT
- Conjunction distance: 3°01′
- Close approach time: 19:28 GMT
- Close approach distance: 2°57′
On the mornings of September 6 and 7, look above the eastern horizon for the waning crescent Moon near reddish Mars (mag 1.2) in Gemini.
The pair will be joined by Castor and Pollux, Gemini’s brightest stars. Mars, Castor, and Pollux will form a striking triangle beside the Moon.
Look lower toward the horizon to spot Jupiter (mag –1.8), the second-brightest planet in the sky after Venus.
| City | Time zone | Best time (local) | Separation | Moon altitude | Mars altitude | Sun altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, USA | EDT (UTC−4) | Sep 6, 4:53 AM | 6.0° | 40° | 34° | −18° |
| Los Angeles, USA | PDT (UTC−7) | Sep 6, 5:04 AM | 4.5° | 41° | 37° | −18° |
| Toronto, Canada | EDT (UTC−4) | Sep 6, 5:06 AM | 5.8° | 39° | 33° | −18° |
| London, UK | BST (UTC+1) | Sep 7, 4:21 AM | 5.8° | 26° | 29° | −18° |
| New Delhi, India | IST (UTC+5:30) | Sep 7, 4:42 AM | 4.1° | 36° | 38° | −18° |
| Singapore | SGT (UTC+8) | Sep 7, 5:50 AM | 3.9° | 32° | 36° | −18° |
| Sydney, Australia | AEST (UTC+10) | Sep 7, 5:00 AM | 3.8° | 15° | 18° | −15° |
| Auckland, New Zealand | NZST (UTC+12) | Sep 7, 5:31 AM | 3.9° | 13° | 17° | −13° |
September 8: Moon near Jupiter
- Conjunction time: 18:11 GMT
- Conjunction distance: 0°49′
- Close approach time: 18:43 GMT
- Close approach distance: 0°46′
On the mornings of September 8 and 9, a very thin crescent Moon will pass close to brilliant Jupiter (mag –1.8). On September 8, both objects will be in Cancer. By the following morning, the Moon will have moved into Leo.
Look for the pair low above the eastern horizon about an hour before sunrise. There is a trade-off: the earlier you observe, the darker the sky will be — but the lower the Moon and Jupiter will sit. Closer to sunrise, they will rise higher but become harder to spot in the brightening twilight.
| City | Time zone | Best time (local) | Separation | Moon altitude | Jupiter altitude | Sun altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, USA | EDT (UTC−4) | Sep 8, 5:40 AM | 4.5° | 23° | 19° | −10° |
| Los Angeles, USA | PDT (UTC−7) | Sep 8, 5:46 AM | 2.7° | 23° | 20° | −10° |
| Toronto, Canada | EDT (UTC−4) | Sep 8, 5:57 AM | 4.3° | 22° | 18° | −10° |
| London, UK | BST (UTC+1) | Sep 9, 5:24 AM | 6.5° | 11° | 17° | −10° |
| New Delhi, India | IST (UTC+5:30) | Sep 9, 5:21 AM | 4.0° | 17° | 21° | −10° |
| Singapore | SGT (UTC+8) | Sep 9, 6:22 AM | 3.2° | 16° | 19° | −10° |
| Sydney, Australia | AEST (UTC+10) | Sep 9, 5:46 AM | 1.9° | 10° | 12° | −4° |
| Auckland, New Zealand | NZST (UTC+12) | Sep 9, 6:19 AM | 1.7° | 10° | 12° | −3° |
Observers in parts of Canada, Greenland, eastern Russia, and the contiguous United States may also witness a lunar occultation of Jupiter. On September 8, between 17:03 and 20:25 GMT, the Moon will pass in front of the planet and briefly hide it from view.
The occultation will occur in daylight across much of the visibility area, making it challenging to observe. Only some locations in eastern Russia can see it under a dark or twilight sky. Your best chance may be to catch Jupiter shortly before it disappears behind the Moon or just after it reappears. Use the free Sky Tonight app to check the visibility map and exact timing for your location.
September 12: Moon near Mercury
- Close approach time: 03:48 GMT
- Close approach distance: 3°24′
- Conjunction time: 07:28 GMT
- Conjunction distance: 3°52′
On the evening of September 12, an extremely thin waxing crescent Moon will appear near Mercury (mag –0.6) in Virgo. Look for the pair very low above the western horizon shortly after sunset. Brilliant Venus (mag –4.7) will shine nearby, higher in the southwestern sky.
The view will be considerably better from southern latitudes, where the Moon and Mercury will remain higher above the horizon as the sky darkens. From much of the Northern Hemisphere, the pair will sit almost directly on the horizon and may be lost in the evening twilight.
| City | Time zone | Best time (local) | Separation | Moon altitude | Mercury altitude | Sun altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, USA | EDT (UTC−4) | Not visible | — | — | — | — |
| Los Angeles, USA | PDT (UTC−7) | Not visible | — | — | — | — |
| Toronto, Canada | EDT (UTC−4) | Not visible | — | — | — | — |
| London, UK | BST (UTC+1) | Not visible | — | — | — | — |
| New Delhi, India | IST (UTC+5:30) | Not visible | — | — | — | — |
| Singapore | SGT (UTC+8) | Sep 12, 7:26 PM | 4.8° | 7° | 6° | −6.1° |
| Sydney, Australia | AEST (UTC+10) | Sep 12, 6:11 PM | 3.5° | 8° | 6° | −6° |
| Auckland, New Zealand | NZST (UTC+12) | Sep 12, 6:36 PM | 3.3° | 7° | 6° | −6° |
September 14: Moon near Venus
- Conjunction time: 11:11 GMT
- Conjunction distance: 0°31′
- Close approach time: 11:34 GMT
- Close approach distance: 0°28′
If you notice a dazzling “star” beside the Moon around September 14, it isn’t a star at all — it’s Venus. On the evening of September 14, the thin waxing crescent Moon will appear near the brilliant planet (mag –4.7) in Virgo. The two objects will also remain relatively close on the evenings before and after the event.
Look for them low above the western horizon in the evening twilight. Venus will be easy to spot even from a light-polluted city, while the Moon’s delicate crescent will make the pairing especially photogenic.
The view will be best from the Southern Hemisphere, where the Moon and Venus will remain above the horizon into darker twilight. Observers there may also spot Spica (mag 1.0), the brightest star in Virgo, nearby.
| City | Time zone | Best time (local) | Separation | Moon altitude | Venus altitude | Sun altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, USA | EDT (UTC−4) | Sep 14, 7:36 PM | 5.7° | 8° | 6° | −6° |
| Los Angeles, USA | PDT (UTC−7) | Sep 13, 7:33 PM | 5.0° | 7° | 10° | −7° |
| Toronto, Canada | EDT (UTC−4) | Sep 14, 7:54 PM | 5.9° | 7° | 5° | −5° |
| London, UK | BST (UTC+1) | Not visible | — | — | — | — |
| New Delhi, India | IST (UTC+5:30) | Sep 14, 7:11 PM | 0.6° | 10° | 10° | −10° |
| Singapore | SGT (UTC+8) | Sep 14, 8:13 PM | 0.5° | 16° | 17° | −18° |
| Sydney, Australia | AEST (UTC+10) | Sep 14, 7:09 PM | 2.2° | 21° | 23° | −18° |
| Auckland, New Zealand | NZST (UTC+12) | Sep 14, 7:37 PM | 2.9° | 20° | 23° | −18° |
There is another highlight: a lunar occultation of Venus will be visible from much of Europe, western Russia, and large parts of Africa and Asia. Between 09:26 and 13:42 GMT, the Moon will pass in front of Venus and temporarily hide it from view. The event will occur in daylight across most locations, although some eastern parts of the path can experience it after sunset. Use the free Sky Tonight app to check the visibility map and exact timing for your location.
September 26: Moon near Neptune
- Close approach time: 15:06 GMT
- Close approach distance: 4°16′
- Conjunction time: 19:04 GMT
- Conjunction distance: 4°51′
On the night of September 26–27, the Full Moon will pass near Neptune (mag 7.7) in Pisces. Neptune will be at opposition, when it appears brightest and stays in the sky from around sunset to sunrise.
Unfortunately, the timing is far from ideal for observing the distant planet. Neptune is never visible to the naked eye, and the glare of the nearby Full Moon will make it particularly difficult to find. You'll need a telescope, an accurate sky map, and clear atmospheric conditions.
A much easier target will be Saturn (mag 0.4). The ringed planet will shine nearby as a bright, steady point of light and will be clearly visible without optical aid.
| City | Time zone | Best time (local) | Separation | Moon altitude | Neptune altitude | Sun altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, USA | EDT (UTC−4) | Sep 26, 5:16 AM | 5.8° | 14° | 17° | −18° |
| Los Angeles, USA | PDT (UTC−7) | Sep 26, 5:21 AM | 4.8° | 15° | 17° | −18° |
| Toronto, Canada | EDT (UTC−4) | Sep 26, 5:33 AM | 5.7° | 15° | 17° | −18° |
| London, UK | BST (UTC+1) | Sep 26, 8:42 PM | 4.3° | 20° | 17° | −18° |
| New Delhi, India | IST (UTC+5:30) | Sep 26, 7:32 PM | 3.5° | 20° | 17° | −18° |
| Singapore | SGT (UTC+8) | Sep 26, 8:47 PM | 3.9° | 30° | 28° | −28° |
| Sydney, Australia | AEST (UTC+10) | Sep 26, 10:12 PM | 4.8° | 48° | 49° | −48° |
| Auckland, New Zealand | NZST (UTC+12) | Sep 27, 12:53 AM | 5.0° | 48° | 52° | −51° |
September 27: Moon near Saturn
- Close approach time: 06:36 GMT
- Close approach distance: 6°11′
- Conjunction time: 12:01 GMT
- Conjunction distance: 6°59′
On the night of September 26–27, the Full Moon will appear near Saturn (mag 0.4). Although the two objects will look close together, the Moon will be in Pisces, while Saturn will have crossed into neighboring Cetus.
Look toward the eastern horizon after 8 p.m. local time. The pair will climb higher throughout the night and remain visible until sunrise. Despite the Moon’s bright glare, Saturn will be easy to recognize with the naked eye as a steady, yellowish point of light.
The ringed planet will reach opposition on October 4, so this is the best time of the year to observe it.
| City | Time zone | Best time (local) | Separation | Moon altitude | Saturn altitude | Sun altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, USA | EDT (UTC−4) | Sep 27, 12:44 AM | 5.8° | 56° | 51° | −51° |
| Los Angeles, USA | PDT (UTC−7) | Sep 26, 9:29 PM | 5.5° | 33° | 28° | −34° |
| Toronto, Canada | EDT (UTC−4) | Sep 27, 12:52 AM | 5.7° | 52° | 47° | −48° |
| London, UK | BST (UTC+1) | Sep 27, 6:21 AM | 6.0° | 12° | 11° | −6° |
| New Delhi, India | IST (UTC+5:30) | Sep 27, 7:25 PM | 7.2° | 12° | 10° | −17° |
| Singapore | SGT (UTC+8) | Sep 27, 8:12 PM | 7.1° | 10° | 11° | −19° |
| Sydney, Australia | AEST (UTC+10) | Sep 27, 7:31 PM | 6.9° | 10° | 14° | −20° |
| Auckland, New Zealand | NZDT (UTC+13) | Sep 27, 8:57 PM | 6.6° | 10° | 13° | −20° |
What planet is closest to the Moon in the sky: Bottom line
Now you know what those bright dots near the Moon are. To view the planets and stars near our natural satellite, choose a cloudless night and use Star Walk 2 or Sky Tonight to learn when the celestial objects are best placed for your location. For a visual explanation, watch our recently released video on how to identify bright objects near the Moon using the Sky Tonight app, step by step.
Here, you can learn about past conjunctions of the Moon and planets:
- Moon-planet conjunctions 2022;
- Moon-planet conjunctions 2023;
- Moon-planet conjunctions 2024;
- Moon-planet conjunctions 2025.
- Moon-planet conjunctions 2026.
Wishing you clear skies and happy observations!
