(Photo: Reuters / Nir Elias)A shadow falls on the moon as it undergoes a total lunar eclipse as seen from Jerusalem June 15, 2011.The Moon will be passing Jupiter Monday night, which will be passing less than 450 million miles from Earth in a conjunction or "celestial hug," as experts are calling it.
According to the Post Bulletin, the first-quarter moon appeared in the lower right of Jupiter early evening on Sunday, Feb. 17, and by Monday evening a slightly more rounded moon will be appearing to Jupiter's left side.
The moon will be passing closest to Jupiter on Monday morning at 7 a.m. ET, according to Space.com.
Astrologists have confirmed that Jupiter is currently the brightest celestial body in the night sky, and the moon passing Jupiter is an excellent opportunity for stargazers to aim their telescopes at the distant planet.
Jupiter's cloud bands and up to four of its moons will be visible during the celestial hug.
It is also a great time to point your telescopes at the moon, experts have advised. The moon's mountains, craters and volcanic plains should be visible to those with access to clear skies and a good telescope.
"If your scope is big enough and the atmospheric conditions clear enough, you may be able to see the shadow of a moon passing in front of Jupiter," Mike Lynch has said for TwinCities.
According to EarthSky, the moon-Jupiter celestial hug is the closest the two bodies will come until 2026.
Here is a video of a close-up of the moon through a strong telescope:
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