What is the Planet that is very close to the moon?

Good call, Professor...yep, it's Jupiter. It was in opposition on the 21st and will not be this close to the earth again until 2022. If you have good binoculars or a telescope, Uranus (also in opposition) can be seen directly above it; it will appear as a small bluish-colored disk, but it is still only about about magnitude 5). For both Jupiter and Uranus to be in opposition at the same time is a once-in-lifetime event worth viewing.

(Hopefully, that info won't draw too many stupid comments).

That is currently the planet Jupiter, but it has _not_ been close to the Moon for the last two weeks. The Moon is in orbit around the Earth and moves approximately 12 degrees across the sky _every night_ so it ahs only been close to Jupiter for the last few nights, and won't be close at all tomorrow.

The earth is closest to the Moon but what you have been watching is Jupiter which is as close as it will be for a long time again. But it is still millions of miles away from the moon.

Jupiter, currently it is approaching its closest point to the earth; that's why its so bright and its position explains why its close to the moon.

Probably Jupiter, it's been pretty bright lately, because it's the closest it's been to earth in a long time.

It's Jupiter. You can even see its 4 big Moons if you look at it with a binoculars.

The earth :).