Morning Stars Venus and Jupiter sparkle in the predawn sky in these 30-second exposures made this morning from the Chicago area. They can be seen into bright morning twilight.
Brilliant planet Venus shines among the dim stars of Cancer in the eastern sky. It is headed toward a close approach to Regulus (Leo) (outside the frame) early next month. The Gemini twins (Castor and Pollux) appear in the image above along with Procyon (Canis Minor).
Bright planet Jupiter shines in the southern sky among the stars of Taurus, nearly 60 degrees to the upper right of Venus. In the image above, Aldebaran, the brightest in Taurus, appears near the planet. The horns, Elnath and Zeta Tauri are also visible. The famous constellation Orion shines below Jupiter with its bright stars Betelgeuse and Rigel.
For our monthly sky watching posting, click here. Watch the planetary pair in the morning sky throughout the next several months. Read more about Venus as a Morning Star. (Click the images to see them larger.)