Anyone looking at the sky on Friday night (23) will be able to see a simple but beautiful astronomical phenomenon: the Moon and planet Saturn will appear very close from each other, in what astronomers call conjunction. The alignment can be observed with the naked eye in some parts of Brazil, as long as the sky is clear.
Conjunction occurs when two stars appear to be side by side in the sky, despite being separated by large distances in space. In this case, Saturn will rise just below the Moon, on the western horizon, shortly after sunset.
According to professor Pedro Henrique Bernardinelli, from the Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences (IAG) at the University of São Paulo (USP), the phenomenon will be visible for a short period.
In the southernmost regions of the country, observation should be possible until around 8:30 pm, while in the north the hours extend a little longer. After this period, the Moon and Saturn become very close to the horizon and, after 10pm, they can no longer be seen.
In addition to tonight’s conjunction, January holds other highlights in the sky. According to NASA, Jupiter was in opposition at the beginning of the month — when the Earth is between the planet and the Sun — reaching its maximum brightness point of the year.
GALLERY – See astronomical discoveries of 2026
Throughout the month, the planet can be easily seen, being one of the brightest objects in the night sky.
For those who want to follow these phenomena, the recommendation is to look for a place with a clear view of the horizon and little artificial lighting. For simple vision, no special equipment is required.
