Venus appeared behind clouds from a storm northwest of the area as seen this evening from the Chicago area. This brilliant planet is emerging from the sun’s glare into the evening sky. It appears low in the northwest for a short period during bright twilight for the next few weeks. Our last view of Venus was Sunday evening as recorded here.
This evening after the sky darkened, Jupiter, the waxing crescent moon (overexposed in the image), and Procyon (Canis Minor) appeared in this image captured at 9 p.m. CDT. Find an unobstructed view of the western horizon as the image shows Jupiter between tree branches and above the neighbor’s roof. (Click the image to see it larger.)
At the same time look toward the southeast for Saturn. It is to the left of the star Spica (Virgo). (Click the image to see it larger.)
Later in the month, Mercury joins Jupiter and Venus in the western sky. For more about this celestial grouping, see our monthly skywatching posting.
For more about Venus as an evening star, see our detailed explanation of this evening appearance this year.