Skygazers who look up at the moon tonight may be able tospot a brightly shining planet joining our celestial neighborin the sky.
That would beSaturn, and it's due to form a conjunction with the moon for one night Friday, Jan 23. Thecosmicrendezvous presents spectators with a rare opportunity tosee a phenomenon in which at least two celestial bodies appearfrom our vantage on Earth to be near one another.
The impending conjunction is also the latest celestial display lighting up Earth's night skies in January aftera group of stars known as the beehive clusterbecame visible earlier in the month.
But will cloudy weather across the U.S. spoil the view?
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Here's what to know about the Saturn and moon conjunction and how to see the celestial objects sharing a section of the night sky.
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What is a planetary conjunction?
A conjunction is an astronomical event in whichat least two planets– or, in this case, a planet and a moon – appear to our vantage from Earth to be close together in the sky.
Even though the planets are in reality still tens of millions of miles apart, the events present a special opportunity for astronomers and casual stargazers to see multiple worlds in our solar system at one time.
So, what causes conjunctions to take place?
As planets in our solar system orbit the sun at varying speeds, sometimes their orbital paths bring them close together on the same side of the sun. The same can be said of the moon, which instead orbits Earth.
When this event lines up with our view from Earth, we get a conjunction, according to the nonprofitPlanetary Society.
When is the Saturn, moon conjunction?
Saturn and the moon are due to share the sky for one night on Friday, Jan. 23, after sunset and before sunrise, NASA said in a monthlyskywatching guide.
Those who look up that night have not only a chance at seeing the moon – Earth's only natural satellites – but Saturn, the sixth planet from the sun and the second largest in the solar system after Jupiter.
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How full will the moon be during the conjunction? What to know about lunar phase
The moon is due to be about 23% full and in a waxing crescent phase on Jan. 23, according to theOld Farmer's Almanac.
That means a silver sliver of the moon will be visible, with most of its illuminated half facing away from Earth, NASAexplains.
Will cloudy weather spoil the conjunction? What to know about forecast
Of course, asextreme cold and major snow storms are forecastedto barrel through much of the U.S., clouds in the sky could also hamper the view.
The National Weather Serviceshared a graphicshowing during cloud cover on the night of Friday, Jan. 23, when the celestial conjunction would be best seen.
The numbers represent the percentage of cloud cover. The gray areas are the cloudiest.
Where, how can you see celestial conjunction in January? Tips
For those in the Northern Hemisphere, which includes the U.S., spotting the conjunction is as easy as locating the moon.
Look to the west and you'll see Saturn located just below the moon "sparkling in the night sky," Chelsea Gohd, a science communicator at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, explained in avideo.
Do you need a telescope to see Saturn next to the moon in the sky?
Telescopes certainly will enhance the view – and may even unveil Saturn's rings – but spectators don't need any equipment to spot Saturn and the moon in the pre-dawn sky.
Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Saturn, moon to form conjunction tonight. Time, forecast, how to see it
