A gathering involving celestial bodies, most predominantly planets, is classified as a conjunction and represents a very dramatic sight when looking overhead. Planets by their nature are generally the brightest specks of light in the overhead sky and, therefore, easily stand out on their own. This is especially true when two or more planets are in proximity to each other ranging from less than a degree to tens of degrees spanning the eastern or western sky.

Strange as it may sound, Mercury is the least observed planet using the naked-eye and this includes professional astronomers and which is attributed to the planet's close proximity to the Sun. As a result, conjunctions involving Mercury and one of the other planets is a great means to catching this elusive planet once the sun has yet to rise in the east or has already set in the west.

Conjunctions are particularly impressive when they involve the most dominant celestial body of the night sky, namely the moon, and where one can observe a variable juxtaposition between the moon and one or more planets from evening to evening.

Note: The total lunar eclipse of July 27, 2018 was particularly unique due to the fact that totality lasted for over 100 minutes and represents the longest such eclipse of the 21st century. This is attributable to the fact thst the Moon was at a distance of over 406,000 km and which is very close to its maximum apogee distance from Earth. As an added bonus, the totally eclipsed Moon was captured with Mars in very close proximity (see the bottom right quadrant of the photo below) with the red planet very bright at magnitude -2.8, a relatively large apparent diameter of 24.26 arc-seconds and at a distance of 58 million km from Earth. The latter is slightly greater than the 56 million km distance observed in 2003 when Mars made its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years and a feat which will happen once again only by 2287!

For additional results involving the totally eclipsed apogee Moon captured with much greater focal length, click here, here, here and here.

Note: For additional conjunction results involving the Moon and other celestial bodies from around the world, please click here.