• The moon and the dazzling planet Jupiter pair up for another prime time showing this Monday evening. If you saw the moon and Jupiter yesterday - on Sunday - you may notice that the moon has moved eastward relative to Jupiter and the background stars.
• Everyone in the world's Eastern Hemisphere - Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand - will see

the moon and closer together than we will in the Americas. In fact, as seen from the southern part of Australia and Tasmania, the moon will occult - cover over - Jupiter in that part of the world. Click here for more information on this lunar occultation of Jupiter.
• Regardless of where we live, we all find that the moon has moved 12o eastward in front of the constellation Taurus the Bull during the previous 24 hours. Given that the moon's diameter equals about 1/2 degree, the moon travels the width of its own diameter every hour. The moon's change of position in front of the backdrop stars enables everyone to visualize the moon orbiting our planet Earth.
• You may also note that the moon's phase tonight is fuller than it was last night. That's because the moon is waxing (increasing) from new moon to full moon right now. In about a week, the full moon will shine all night long on the night of February 25.
• Understanding moon phases
• Whereas the moon only stays in front of Taurus (or any constellation of the Zodiac) for 2 to 3 days a month, Jupiter lights up any constellation of the Zodiac for roughly a year. Jupiter takes about 12 years to go full circle through the Zodiac. So every year, you can use this brilliant world to learn a different constellation of the Zodiac.
• When the moon drops out of the evening sky in late February and early March, let the moon be your guide to the constellation Taurus the Bull. By this time next year, you can use Jupiter to find the constellation Gemini the Twins.
• For now - on this Monday night - let the waxing gibbous moon be your guide to