Solar Conjunction
The Moon appears as a thin crescent when it is close to solar conjunction, which is better known as new moon. Simulated image courtesy of Tom Ruen.
An object is said to be at solar conjunction when it makes its closest approach to the Sun in the sky.
The planets are typically lost in the Sun's glare and impossible to observe for a few weeks when they pass solar conjunction. Mercury can reappear within only a few days, since it moves around its orbit so quickly that it can pass from solar conjunction to maximum elongation in less than a month.
List of solar conjunctions
The table below lists the dates when objects are at solar conjunction in 2024, computed from NASA's DE430 planetary ephemeris. To show events in other years, use the control below.
Objects at solar conjunction in 2024
Date | Object | Full description of event |
Date | Object | Full description of event |
20 Jan 2024 08:38 EST | 134340 Pluto at solar conjunction | More information » |
28 Feb 2024 03:52 EST | Mercury at solar conjunction | More information » |
28 Feb 2024 16:15 EST | Saturn at solar conjunction | More information » |
17 Mar 2024 07:13 EDT | Neptune at solar conjunction | More information » |
11 Apr 2024 18:58 EDT | Mercury at solar conjunction | More information » |
14 Apr 2024 02:23 EDT | 136199 Eris at solar conjunction | More information » |
13 May 2024 05:04 EDT | Uranus at solar conjunction | More information » |
18 May 2024 14:34 EDT | Jupiter at solar conjunction | More information » |
04 Jun 2024 12:03 EDT | Venus at solar conjunction | More information » |
14 Jun 2024 12:38 EDT | Mercury at solar conjunction | More information » |
18 Aug 2024 21:53 EDT | Mercury at solar conjunction | More information » |
30 Sep 2024 17:19 EDT | Mercury at solar conjunction | More information » |
02 Oct 2024 20:00 EDT | 136472 Makemake at solar conjunction | More information » |
24 Oct 2024 08:54 EDT | 136108 Haumea at solar conjunction | More information » |
05 Dec 2024 21:14 EST | Mercury at solar conjunction | More information » |