Mars and Jupiter reach their closest apparent separation in Earth’s sky at 9:04 p.m. The planets appear about 1.2 degrees apart in the constellation Leo as part of a four-planet morning alignment.
Mars and Jupiter Reach Closest Separation on Nov. 15
The two planets will reach their closest apparent separation at 9:04 p.m. EST on Nov. 15, which corresponds to 0204 GMT on Nov. 16, according to astronomy website In-The-Sky.
Because the planets remain below the U.S. horizon at that exact moment, stargazers across the country can catch the pair rising above the eastern horizon around midnight local time, or view them during the pre-dawn hours of November 15 and 16. Forecast Bar’s catalog, drawing on JPL-based data, measures the exact gap at 1.19 degrees.
On average, Mars and Jupiter come together every 2.235 years, and since their previous conjunction in August 2024 saw them reach a proximity of about one-third of a degree, the gap this year is more than three times as wide.
Although the two worlds appear nearly side by side from Earth’s viewpoint, the actual distance between Mars and Jupiter is nearly 370 million miles.
Observing the Alignment Without Telescopes
Observers do not need a telescope to witness the event, as both planets shine brightly enough for the naked eye. Jupiter appears as a brilliant point of light and ranks as the brightest of the pair, while Mars displays a warm orange tint from iron-rich surface minerals.
To maximize the viewing experience, Buffalo Astronomical Association Board Director Tim Collins recommends using binoculars rather than high-powered telescopes. “You can take a telescope to look at it if you want. You may not get both of them in the same field of view if you don’t have the right sizes of things. But my money would be on a pair of binoculars,” Collins said.
For those using backyard equipment, a telescope with an aperture of at least four inches can help viewers attempt to spot Jupiter’s Great Red Spot during the predawn hours of November 16, with light green or orange color filters helping to increase the visibility of the vast storm and cloud belts.
Four-Planet Parade in the Dawn Sky
The conjunction is part of a wider planetary alignment involving four worlds visible in a diagonal line stretching upward from the southeastern horizon before dawn. Mercury sits lowest and requires a flat horizon, Venus shines high and bright, and Jupiter and Mars appear bunched closely together higher in the sky.
As of mid-November, these two planets are now rising almost on top of one another. The precise time that the Mars-Jupiter Conjunction becomes visible in the east varies based on where the viewer is located; for instance, in parts of British Columbia, eastern mountain ranges can postpone their appearance by as much as 45 minutes.
Collins emphasizes that viewers can continue observing the pair on subsequent mornings if weather permits.
“The actual moment of close approach is Monday morning at 5:15 a.m.,” Collins said. “After that point, they’re going to start separating again, and Mars will go on its way. So any day before or after that, and then each subsequent day after, you can still get up, go outside if it’s clear, and take a look.”
Broader November Skywatching Events
Ritter Planetarium director and astronomy professor Michael Cushing describes how observers can spot Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter in the night sky throughout this month. This month is packed with various celestial spectacles, such as a brilliant supermoon, three different meteor showers, impressive fireballs, and the landmark one light-day journey of Voyager 1 from Earth.
The celestial calendar for the month concludes with a supermoon on November 24, alongside a grouping on November 30 when the Moon appears near Jupiter and Mars.