On Friday, Feb. 22, the Moon will pass very close to the brightest point of light in the current evening sky, Jupiter.

For the rest of North America, this will be only a very close approach of the Moon to Jupiter, called a conjunction. [Click here for local times]

The Moon will be in the constellation Gemini, the Twins, having grown to a 76 percent gibbous phase. Moving around the Earth in an easterly direction at roughly its own diameter each hour, the Moon will seem to creep slowly toward and ultimately pass just above the giant planet. After closest approach, the Moon will spend the balance of the night moving slowly away from Jupiter.

Most of the United States and Canada will be in darkness or twilight at the moment that Moon and planet are closest together. The exception will be near to and along the West Coast, where it will happen before local sunset.

Because Jupiter is so bright, it's close brush with the Moon may attract more attention that the Saturn occultation earlier in the week. Jupiter, shining at a brilliant magnitude of 2.5 now, appears ten times brighter than Saturn. The brightest object in the sky, when it is visible, is Venus, which can reach magnitude -4.7; the dimmest stars that can be seen with the naked eye are magnitude +6.0.

Jupiter will almost command people to look at it, as it slowly appears to glide beneath the Moon.

If youre wondering, North America will be treated to a spectacular dark sky occultation of Jupiter, less than three years from now, on December 7, 2004. Mark your calendars!

Click here for local times of this event