Bright Moon Joins Jupiter

Shortly after the very bright moon clears the rooftops in the east after dusk on Saturday, December 14, the brilliant planet Jupiter will rise to join it. The duo will make a lovely photo opportunity when composed with some nice foreground scenery. As the moon and Jupiter climb the eastern sky, the bright winter stars will surround them, including yellowish Capella on their upper left and reddish Aldebaran to their right, both part of the huge winter hexagon asterism. The bright pair will culminate due south towards midnight and set in the west before dawn. By then the diurnal rotation of the sky will lift the moon, now full, above Jupiter.