Moon Conjunctions: Dates, Times & More!

What is a lunar Conjunction?

Lunar conjunctions are occasions when the Moon appears close to a planet or another celestial object in the sky. Because the Moon moves quickly across the sky, it regularly passes near bright planets such as Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.

Moon Conjunctions 2026

The table below lists the 2026 conjunctions of the Moon with Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. The times are calculated for the moment when the Moon and the planet have the same ecliptic longitude.

Why does the Moon have so many conjunctions?

The Moon travels around Earth once every 27.3 days relative to the background stars.

As it moves through the sky, it repeatedly passes the planets and stars that lie near the ecliptic.

This is why Moon-planet conjunctions occur almost every month.

Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus and Mercury can all have repeated encounters with the Moon throughout the year.

Which planets can appear near the Moon?

The Moon can appear close to any planet, but the easiest conjunctions to observe are usually those involving bright planets.

Moon and Venus

Venus is the brightest planet visible from Earth and can be spectacular next to a thin crescent Moon.

These pairings are usually best seen around twilight when both objects are above the horizon.

Moon and Jupiter

Jupiter is another excellent conjunction target.

Because it is bright and often visible for much of the night, a Moon-Jupiter conjunction can be easy to find with the naked eye.

The two can also make an attractive target for binoculars or a camera.

Moon and Mars

Mars is much dimmer than Venus or Jupiter, but its reddish appearance can make a conjunction with the Moon distinctive.

Its visibility varies considerably depending on where Mars is in its orbit and how bright it is at the time.

Moon and Saturn

Saturn is not as bright as Venus or Jupiter, but it is still easy to identify when the sky is sufficiently dark.

A Moon-Saturn conjunction can be particularly interesting through a telescope because Saturn’s rings may be visible even though the Moon itself is much closer to Earth.

Moon and Mercury

Mercury is more difficult to observe because it always remains relatively close to the Sun in the sky.

A Moon-Mercury conjunction can therefore occur very low above the horizon or during twilight.

A clear, unobstructed horizon is especially important for these events.

What is the difference between a conjunction and a close approach?

These terms are often used interchangeably in popular astronomy, but they describe slightly different measurements.

A conjunction is based on a specific coordinate relationship between the two objects.

A close approach refers to the moment when their apparent angular separation is smallest. The two moments can occur at different times.

For example, a Moon and planet may reach conjunction at one time and then continue moving until they reach their minimum apparent separation later.

This is why different astronomy calendars can sometimes show slightly different times for what appears to be the same event.

Can a Moon conjunction be an occultation?

Yes. Sometimes the Moon passes directly in front of a planet or star from a particular part of Earth.

When this happens, the Moon temporarily blocks the object from view. This is called an occultation. A conjunction does not automatically mean an occultation.

For an occultation to occur, the Moon must pass directly across the line of sight to the more distant object, and the event must be visible from the observer’s location.

Are Moon conjunctions visible everywhere?

Not necessarily. The conjunction itself is a global astronomical event, but visibility depends on your location.

At the exact conjunction time:

• The Moon and planet may be below your horizon.
• The sky may be daylight.
• One or both objects may be too close to the Sun.
• Clouds or atmospheric conditions may block the view.

The Moon and planet can also appear noticeably farther apart from one location than another because of parallax, particularly when the Moon is involved.

For practical observing, the exact conjunction time should therefore be treated as the astronomical reference point rather than the guaranteed best viewing time.

What is the best Moon conjunction to see?

Some moon conjunctions are especially attractive when:

• Venus is close to a thin crescent Moon.
• Jupiter appears close to the Moon in a dark sky.
• The Moon passes very close to a bright planet.
• The conjunction occurs high above the horizon.
• The Moon is a thin crescent, making the planet stand out more clearly.

Very close conjunctions can also be interesting through binoculars or a telescope.

Can you see Moon conjunctions without a telescope?

Yes. Most Moon-planet conjunctions involving Venus, Jupiter, Mars or Saturn can be observed without optical equipment when the objects are above the horizon and the sky is dark enough.

Mercury conjunctions can be more challenging because Mercury stays close to the Sun. A telescope is useful for additional detail, but it is not necessary to enjoy the event.

How to find a Moon conjunction

The easiest method is to first locate the Moon. Once you know where the Moon is, look for the bright planet nearby.

For the best chance of seeing the event:

1. Check the date and conjunction time.
2. Find out whether the event occurs in the evening or morning sky.
3. Look for an unobstructed horizon.
4. Check whether the planet is above the horizon at the time.
5. Avoid locations with strong artificial light when possible.
6. Use a sky map or astronomy app if you cannot identify the planet.

The exact viewing time can differ from the conjunction time because the best view may occur before or after the mathematical conjunction.

Moon conjunctions and the Moon’s phases

The Moon can form conjunctions with planets during any phase.

A conjunction involving a crescent Moon can be especially attractive because the dark portion of the lunar disk blends into the sky.

A conjunction near Full Moon is also easy to see because the Moon is extremely bright.

The phase of the Moon does not determine whether a conjunction occurs. It simply describes how much of the lunar surface is illuminated at that time.

Moon conjunctions and the ecliptic

The planets appear to travel through a relatively narrow region of the sky called the ecliptic.

The Moon’s orbit is tilted by about 5 degrees relative to the ecliptic, so it also stays relatively close to this region.

Because the Moon and planets occupy similar parts of the sky, the Moon regularly passes near them. This is the reason Moon-planet conjunctions are common.

Why does the Moon appear extremely close to a planet?

The Moon is relatively close to Earth compared with the planets. Because of this, its apparent position can shift significantly depending on where the observer is located.

A conjunction that appears extremely close from one region can appear somewhat wider from another. This is also why an event that looks like a very close pairing in one location may not appear equally close everywhere.

Can a Moon conjunction happen during the day?

Yes. The conjunction is simply a geometric relationship between the Moon and another object. It can occur while the Sun is above the horizon.

However, daytime conjunctions are often difficult to observe because sunlight makes the sky bright. The Moon itself can sometimes be visible during the day, and Venus can occasionally be seen under suitable conditions, but observing requires much more care.

Note: Never use binoculars or a telescope to search for a daytime conjunction if the Sun could enter the field of view.

How to photograph a Moon conjunction

Moon-planet conjunctions are excellent subjects for simple astrophotography. You do not necessarily need a dedicated astronomy camera.

A phone can capture bright conjunctions involving the Moon and Venus or Jupiter, particularly when the sky is still partly illuminated.

For a camera:

• Use a tripod.
• Start with a relatively short exposure.
• Focus carefully on the Moon or a distant object.
• Use a wide or medium telephoto lens depending on the separation.
• Take several exposures with different settings.
• Include a landscape or building for scale when possible.

The Moon is much brighter than most planets, so exposing correctly can be challenging. Multiple exposures can help preserve detail in both the Moon and the surrounding sky.

The most notable Moon conjunctions in 2026

Several 2026 conjunctions stand out because the Moon passes particularly close to bright planets.

The September 8 Moon-Jupiter conjunction is one of the closest Jupiter pairings of the year in the conjunction calculations, with Jupiter less than a degree from the Moon in apparent separation. The October 6 encounter is even closer, with Jupiter about 0.2° from the Moon in the astronomical almanac.

The October 6 Moon-Jupiter conjunction is therefore one of the most interesting events to mark on your calendar.

Some conjunctions can also become occultations for observers in particular regions. For example, the 2026 almanac identifies Moon-planet events involving Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter as occultations at certain dates.

An occultation is a separate event from a normal conjunction, so visibility must be checked for the observer’s location.

Sources

• AstroPixels — 2026 Sky Event Almanac
• NASA Science — June 2026 Skywatching