Don't Miss the Moon–Jupiter Conjunction on Dec. 7 — Best Time to Look

03:32 AM, 12/06/2025

On the night of Sunday, December 7, the Moon and Jupiter will appear in conjunction — an apparent near-alignment that makes them look close from Earth though they remain far apart in space, says NASA. Look east after dark: Jupiter will sit just above and slightly to the right of the nearly full Moon, separated by about half a clenched fist at arm’s length. The pair will be low in the constellation Gemini and reach their highest point around midnight local time. Binoculars can enhance the view, though the Moon’s brightness may limit faint details.

Moon and Jupiter Put On A Celestial Show — Sunday, Dec. 7

December has already delivered striking sky events, from a near-supermoon to vivid aurora displays, and another bright pairing is set for Sunday night, December 7. On that evening the Moon and Jupiter will form a conjunction — an apparent close alignment in the sky.

What Is a Conjunction? A conjunction is when two celestial bodies appear near each other from Earth even though they remain far apart in space, according to NASA. In this case, while the Moon and Jupiter will look adjacent, they are actually separated by hundreds of millions of miles.

Where and When To Look — After dark on Sunday, scan the eastern sky and find the Moon. Jupiter will be positioned just above and slightly to the right of the Moon, shining like a steady, brilliant star. The pair will be low in the constellation Gemini and will climb through the night, reaching their highest point in the sky around midnight (local time).

How Close Will They Appear? — If you hold a clenched fist at arm’s length, the gap between the Moon and Jupiter will be roughly half a fist’s width.

Visibility Notes — The Moon will be near full on the night of the conjunction, but it should not completely wash out Jupiter; the planet should remain easily visible to the naked eye. For the best view, find a spot with a clear eastern horizon and as little light pollution as possible. A pair of binoculars will enhance the view and may reveal Jupiter’s brightest moons as small points of light, though the glare from a nearly full Moon can make faint objects harder to see.

Quick Tips: Look east after dusk, allow your eyes 10–15 minutes to adapt to the dark, and give the sky a clear horizon — the tighter the view, the better the pairing will look.