Jupiter and Mars Meet in Leo: How to Catch This Week's Planetary Alignment

Jupiter and Mars will shine side by side in the heart of the constellation Leo. The two planets reach their closest apparent separation in Earth's sky on November 15 at 9:04 p.m. EST, according to In-The-Sky. U.S. stargazers will find the pair below the horizon at that exact minute, but observers can catch them rising together around midnight local time.

At their closest, Jupiter will sit a little over 1 degree from Mars, which is roughly the width of a little finger held at arm's length against the sky. Jupiter will outshine its planetary neighbor while the bright star Regulus glows nearby to complete the head of the Lion.

This tight pairing will fit inside the field of view of a standard pair of 10x50 binoculars as they climb above the horizon. Our read suggests that this dawn-hour window offers a rare practical payoff for backyard observers willing to brave the late-night chill. Early risers using a backyard telescope with a 4-inch aperture can spot Jupiter's iconic Great Red Spot rotating into view on November 16.

Adding a light green color filter helps increase the storm's visibility, while an orange filter brings out detail in the sweeping cloud belts.

Catching the planets requires good timing because they will gradually drift apart over the coming weeks.

Stargazers who miss this week's event will wait two and a half years until July 2029 for the next close approach in Virgo.

Watch the eastern horizon closely this week before the planetary window closes.