The moon will hide Jupiter in broad daylight on Sept.8 — here's how to see it
The moon and Jupiter will meet before dawn on Sept. 8, before the moon hides the giant planet from view in a rare daytime occultation.
On Tuesday, September 8, skywatchers can witness a remarkable predawn pairing of the crescent moon and Jupiter, followed by an even more challenging daytime occultation where the moon obscures the planet's view. Before sunrise at 5 a.m. local time, look low in the east-northeast sky for a slender waning crescent moon (10% illuminated) and brilliant Jupiter, about 5 degrees below the moon.
Jupiter rises just before 4 a.m. local daylight time, rising higher as dawn approaches. The planet is in the dim zodiacal constellation Cancer, which one astronomy mentor called "the empty space between the Sickle of Leo and the Gemini Twins."
Later in the day, around 2:55 to 3:30 p.m., depending on your time zone, the moon will hide Jupiter from much of North America. The thin waning crescent moon will pass in front of Jupiter, taking roughly a minute to cover the giant planet. To find them in daylight, locate the moon and Jupiter before sunrise and track them into daylight, about 30 degrees to the right and lower than the sun.
Watch for Jupiter to reappear along the moon's dark limb, appearing as if it emerged from the blue sky. Although the sighting will be challenging, especially due to the moon's low surface brightness and the planet's smaller size and even lower surface brightness, it should be a captivating sight with a telescope.
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