It was Jupiter by the Moon this Morning

Jupiter near the Moon, Oct. 28, 2016. Credit: Stellarium/Bob Trembley

My wife called me this morning – her students were asking “what planet was by the Moon this morning?” There was frost on the ground (and cars), the air was very crisp, and apparently there was a lot of earthshine on the Moon. Jupiter was 1.4° south of the Moon in this morning’s sky. Even though the Moon was just a thin waning crescent, the students said it was very bright.

Good on my wife’s students for witnessing this conjunction!