See Jupiter and Mars make a spectacular close approach overnight Nov. 15-16
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
On the night of November 15‑16, Mars and Jupiter will appear within just over one degree of each other in the constellation Leo, creating a striking visual “appulse” for observers in the United States. The planets rise around midnight, framed by the blue‑white star Regulus, which lies about 79 light‑years away. Although the two worlds are actually separated by more than 368 million miles, their close alignment occurs only once every 2‑2.5 years and will not be repeated until July 2029. Both are superior planets, so they show full disks through a telescope, unlike Mercury or Venus. Amateur astronomers can use a 6‑inch scope to contrast Jupiter’s banded clouds with Mars’s reddish surface and dark features, and are encouraged to photograph the event.
💡 Why It Matters
- · The rare alignment offers a prime, low‑cost opportunity for the public to compare two vastly different planetary atmospheres in a single view, deepening engagement with planetary science.
