Watch Jupiter and half moon grace the sky tonight
What's the story
Tonight (August 7), stargazers are in for a treat as Jupiter and the half moon will appear together in the sky. Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, is currently the brightest body in the night sky and will appear right beneath the Moon. Positioned among the stars of Aries the ram, Jupiter will get brighter in the weeks to come.
Details
You can spot Jovian moons using a telescope or binoculars
Jupiter's position changes over time due to Earth's motion around the Sun. In the coming weeks, the planet will rise earlier in the night sky. Currently, 40.2 light-minutes away, this distance will shrink to 33.1 light-minutes by mid-autumn. Using a small telescope or binoculars, you will also be able to observe four of Jupiter's large moons, namely Io, Ganymede, Europa, and Callisto.
Help
You can use Stellarium Web to track cosmic objects
As Jupiter's brightness is set to increase, it becomes an ideal target for observation. To see it at its highest and steadiest this week, the best time to view the planet is during the morning twilight, about 60 to 90 minutes before sunrise, per Space.com. You can use astronomy apps like Stellarium Web to get a better viewing experience.