Planet party: Jupiter and Mars are about to get super cozy in the sky

This week, stargazers are in for a celestial treat as Jupiter and Mars perform a close approach. On the evening of November 15th, the two planets will appear incredibly close together in the constellation Leo, separated by just over one degree—about the width of your pinky finger held at arm's length. While the exact moment of closest approach happens below the horizon for U.S. viewers, they'll become visible rising together in the eastern sky around midnight.

For anyone looking up, Jupiter will outshine Mars, with the bright star Regulus nearby to complete the scene. The pair will be close enough to fit within the view of standard binoculars and will be spectacular through even a modest backyard telescope. After this week, the planets will gradually drift apart, with the next similarly close rendezvous not scheduled until mid-2029, making this a perfect, low-tech astronomical event to enjoy.