What is the formal name for the celestial alignment between the Moon and a bright planet?
Answer
Conjunction
The formal term used to describe the striking celestial alignment where the Moon appears closely paired with a bright, steady beacon of light, such as a planet, is called a conjunction. This specific alignment is transient because the Moon orbits the Earth rapidly, causing its path against the background stars and planets (the ecliptic) to sweep past different celestial bodies in short periods, often changing daily. This rapid change necessitates checking current astronomical charts to know which body is currently in conjunction.
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