Rare Moon, Saturn and Jupiter conjunction THIS week – how to spot it with naked eye

JUPITER and Saturn will be making a close approach to the Moon this week.

Both planets are set to reach their own conjunctions with the Moon, which means they’ll appear very close to it.

Weather depending, stargazers should be able to spot the planets with the naked eye.

The planets at their closest points to the Moon will be hard to see with the naked eye from the US and not possible from the UK due to timings and their positions near the horizon.

However, you should still be able to spot the planets appearing fairly close to the Moon just before sunrise in the dawn sky.

Look to the south on March 10 and you could spot the Moon low on the horizon with Saturn shining like a star above it.

AFP or licensors

Jupiter and Saturn had a very close conjunction in December last year[/caption]

Saturn will be higher and more to the right than Jupiter which should appear closer to the Moon.

You’ll need to look low down on the horizon and may want to use binoculars for a clearer look.

In the UK the planets should rise above the horizon after 5am.

Early risers will only have just over an hour to see them before the sun appears and it’s too bright to stargaze.

It’s a similar situation in the US except Saturn will rise just before 5am ET.

For the best chance of seeing them you’ll need an unobstructed horizon away from a lot of big buildings or trees.

Drops of Jupiter

Full list of all Jupiter’s moons:

Adrastea
Aitne
Amalthea
Ananke
Aoede
Arche
Autonoe
Callirrhoe
Callisto
Carme
Carpo
Chaldene
Cyllene
Dia
Eirene
Elara
Erinome
Ersa
Euanthe
Eukelade
Eupheme
Euporie
Europa
Eurydome
Ganymede
Harpalyke
Hegemone
Helike
Hermippe
Herse
Himalia
Io
Iocaste
Isonoe
Jupiter LI
Jupiter LII
Kale
Kallichore
Kalyke
Kore
Leda
Lysethea
Megaclyte
Metis
Mneme
Orthosie
Pandia
Pasiphae
Pasithee
Philophrosyne
Praxidike
S/2003 J10 12 16 18 19 2 4 23 9
S/2011 J1 and 2
S/2016 J1 and 2 (Valetudo)
S/2017 J1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9
Sinope
Sponde
Taygete
Thebe
Thelxinoe
Themisto
Thyone

In other news, you can try to spot Mars in the night sky this month.

Two awe-inspiring Super Moon events are on the way before summer.

And, Elon Musk has warned that humanity may “self-extinguish” before we can colonise Mars.

Will you be stargazing this week? Let us know in the comments…

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at tech@the-sun.co.uk