Catch Saturn and the Moon Together

As the Moon makes its monthly orbits around Earth, it will pass near Saturn’s position on November 10–11. This will happen again on December 8, 2024, and January 4, 2025.

Find the Moon in our Night Sky Map

Just After First Quarter Moon

Saturn will be very close to the Moon just after First Quarter on November 10 to 11. The Moon’s orientation and its distance from Saturn will vary slightly depending on your viewing location on Earth.

Although all observers will see the Moon and Saturn in the evening, 8 pm in New York comes around 16 hours after 8 pm in Sydney. This is because, during this time, the Moon has traveled a little bit further in its orbit around Earth.

Your view also depends on whether you are in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, as the Moon and Saturn’s orientation varies according to latitude.

So, when is the closest approach in my location? Search for the Moon in our Night Sky Map, and use the slider and the calendar to find the best time to see the Moon and Saturn meet in the sky.

Conjunction, Appulse, or Close Approach?

A close approach—also known as an appulse—is when celestial bodies appear close to each other in the sky. Because the solar system is the shape of a thin disk, Earth, the Moon, and the planets orbit the Sun in roughly the same plane. Sometimes objects appear close from our perspective, even though they are far away from each other.

Although the term conjunction is often used to refer to close groupings of celestial bodies, the technical definition refers to the exact moment two astronomical objects share the same right ascension (part of a coordinate system used by astronomers).

The Moon: Our natural satellite