In a sky full of stars in the predawn eastern sky, Morning Stars Venus and Jupiter gleam brightly at 5 a.m. in this 30-second exposure image from the Chicago area.
Brilliant planet Venus is among the stars of Gemini and approaching is closest to Pollux, one of the twins. Orion, just out of the frame, and its bright star Betelgeuse is to the right along the horizon.
Planet Jupiter is higher in the sky and among the stars of Taurus with its bright star Aldebaran. The Pleiades are above Jupiter and Aldebaran and outside the frame. Auriga, with its bright star Capella, is to Jupiter’s left and above Venus.
Watch the planetary pair in the morning sky throughout this month. Read more about Venus as a Morning Star. For our monthly sky watching posting, click here. (Click the image to see it larger.)