Why is the Moon going above Jupiter in the sky?

[Raghav Gupta]

I went for a walk in a big park for 3 days.
On first day I saw moon above Mars relatively in sky . Mars was looking like a pointy star being red in colour.
The next day I saw Mars relatively above moon.
The third day moon above Mars again and they rising high and high.
Are they both having a race?

 

[davenn]

when was this ?

Jupiter and the moon have been relatively close over the last few days
mars is currently very close to the sun ( in the sky) and cannot be seen

 

[Raghav Gupta]

when was this ?

Jupiter and the moon have been relatively close over the last few days
mars is currently very close to the sun ( in the sky) and cannot be seen

It was also for the last three days. Maybe you are living in different country and viewing perspective might be different?
But it is the Mercury which is close to Sun.
I have read earlier that Mars is closest to moon among other planets.

 

[davenn]

It was also for the last three days. Maybe you are living in different country and viewing perspective might be different?
But it is the Mercury which is close to Sun.
I have read earlier that Mars is closest to moon among other planets.

no ... you were most likely mistaking Mars for Jupiter

note again what I said and take special not of what is in brackets

mars is currently very close to the sun ( in the sky)

At the moment, as viewed from earth, Mars is close to the sun and not visible

 

[Raghav Gupta]

no ... you were most likely mistaking Mars for jupiter

I think you meant to say I am mistaking Jupiter for Mars .
How one can tell whether it is Jupiter or Mars, without looking by a telescope?

 

[davenn]

I think you meant to say I am mistaking Jupiter for Mars .

either way ... it doesn't matter

use an astronomy program like Stellarium, it tells you where all the planets, moon, sun and all the stars and deep space objects are

 

[Raghav Gupta]

either way ... it doesn't matter

use an astronomy program like Stellarium, it tells you where all the planets, moon, sun and all the stars and deep space objects are

Is mobile app available for that Stellarium?
If it was Jupiter , then also why both moon and it were having a race?

 

[davenn]

Is mobile app available for that Stellarium?

not sure ... quite possible

If it was Jupiter , then also why both moon and it were having a race?

over the last 4 days the moon has caught up with and overtaken Jupiter's position in the sky

on the 21st to the 23rd April, the moon was quite close to Venus

 

[Raghav Gupta]

over the last 4 days the moon has caught up with and overtaken Jupiter's position in the sky

on the 21st to the 23rd April, the moon was quite close to Venus

Is it the first time?
Why any breaking news or talk about that is not taking place?

 

[davenn]

it happens every month

here's a pic I just did from Stellarium for some one in India, like yourself
showing the moon's path over the last week.
the location is as the date time says for the shown position
for tonite , the 28th april ... the moon has nmow moved off the top of the image

 

[Raghav Gupta]

it happens every month

here's a pic I just did from Stellarium for some one in India, like yourself
showing the moon's path over the last week the location is as the

View attachment 82678

And if you change the date by one day, would the moon be above. Can you show the pic?
What is this phenomena and till how many days in a month it happens?

 

[davenn]

 

[davenn]

Note ... I have not worried about the phases of the moon

on the 22nd it was just a thin crescent
on the 27th it was first quarter

 

[Raghav Gupta]

Thanks Davenn.
I have not studied astronomy but was fascinated by that thing.

 

[Raghav Gupta]

Note ... I have not worried about the phases of the moon

on the 22nd it was just a thin crescent
on the 27th it was first quarter

But what is the phenomena for all this or reason of moon going above Jupiter?

 

[davenn]

the sun, moon and planets follow a path in the sky called the ecliptic

have a read of these sites ...

http://Earth'sky.org/space/what-is-the-ecliptic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecliptic

 

[Drakkith]

But what is the phenomena for all this or reason of moon going above Jupiter?

The Moon orbits the Earth and is much, much closer than any of the other planets. Therefore as the Moon moves along in its orbit, it moves near to, and sometimes in front of, other objects as viewed from here on Earth.