The half-lit lunar disk will rise alongside the ringed giant Saturn and dimmer Neptune in the early morning hours of June 19, putting on a spectacular show just six hours after the moon hits its third quarter phase.
Saturn, the moon and Neptune will be at their closest in Earth's sky at 9:11 p.m. EDT on June 18 (0111 GMT on June 19), at which time the trio will be separated by a mere 2.58 degrees while below the horizon for those in the U.S., according to stargazing website in-the-sky.org. Remember, it's possible to measure distances by holding your hand at arms length against the night sky. The width of the tip of your little finger accounts for 1 degree in the night sky, while the width of your clenched fist measures roughly 10 degrees.
