We'll be battling increasing cloudiness all day today, with rain due to settle in for the next few days as a variety of low-pressure systems slop through the region.

But if this change in the weather holds off just long enough, we may get a look at a lovely pairing of the waxing moon and the planet Jupiter this evening. The conjunction should be bright enough to seep through a hazy sky like we have this (Monday) morning.

For more, visit Sky & Telescope.com

UPDATE: Here's a shot of the moon and Jupiter (tiny white dot to the left of the moon) taken around 11 p.m. Monday night. (Hey, it's a point-and-shoot...)

Jupiter has been a bright presence in the evening sky for months now in the southeast and south. It is the brightest star-like object up there and impossible to miss when the weather cooperates. The moon is on its way to full on Nov. 2, moving eastward each night, closer to Jupiter's position in the southern sky in the evening.

In addition to tonight's conjunction, the moon's trek toward its full phase will provide lots of moonlight for Saturday's little tricksters and beggars - although the forecast at this five-day distance calls for mostly cloudy skies by the 31st.

Part of our wet weather in the next day or two will be influenced by another coastal low - the sort that tends to draw moisture in off the ocean and bring us damp, chilly east winds, significant rain and - when it's cold enough - snow storms. El Nino winters like the one coming up tend to produce more such storms. And that seems to be the pattern we're already seeing this fall, with several rainy spells powered at least in part by coastal lows.