Moon Passing Jupiter: Celestial Encounter Can be Seen in North America Tonight and Monday (VIDEO)

If you're looking for a light show tonight, check out the moon that will passing through Jupiter. The moon will appear to sail past the planet on Feb. 17 and Monday in the latest celestial encounter of Earth's natural satellite and the largest planet in the solar system.

The moon and Jupiter has been engaged each month since November as seen since North America, with the most recent conjunction of Jupiter and the moon on Jan. 21 with the moon appearing to skim just below Jupiter.

However, in February, the moon will make its closest approach to Jupiter on Monday morning (Feb. 18) at 7 a.m. EST (1200 GMT/4 a.m. PST). Unfortunately, both the moon and Jupiter will be below the horizon for North America, which means the best observers here can do is see the moon as it approaches Jupiter on this evening, and then follow up Monday night as the moon recedes from Jupiter.

So, where can you expect to find this light spectacle tonight? At mid-twilight, roughly 45 minutes after sunset, look high in the south, more than two-thirds of the way up from the horizon to the point directly overhead (the zenith) and - weather permitting - you'll see the moon and hovering about 6 degrees above and to its left will be brilliant Jupiter. [Planets and Constellations of Feb. Night Sky (Video)]

And on Monday night, the moon will be in a somewhat more noticeable gibbous phase, and will have moved to a point about 6 degrees to the left (east) of Jupiter.

Jupiter, known as the brightest "star" in the night sky and the first to come out at dusk, is more than two and a half times the brightness of Sirius - the brightest star in the night sky - which in early evening sparkles in the southeast 60 degrees to Jupiter's lower left.

Jupiter is visible all night long. It currently sets in the west around 1:30 a.m. your local time.

Jupiter is also accompanied by two naked-eye star clusters (the Pleiades and Hyades) and an entourage of other bright stars. It is receding and fading but nonetheless remains brilliant.

What to see a video about tonight's show? Check out this video, courtesy of Space.com