Jupiter Tonight, February 3, 2014

Through high clouds bright Jupiter shines from high in the eastern sky this evening as seen from the Chicago area. (Click the images to see them larger.)  Jupiter is slowly retrograding (moving westward) in front of the stars of Gemini with its bright stars, Castor and Pollux.  Betelgeuse (Orion) and Procyon (Canis Minor) are visible in the image.

Notice Jupiter’s position in the starry background tonight to where it was in the image below about three months ago.

East is to the bottom of the image; west is toward the top.  Notice the position of Jupiter compare to Castor and Pollux.  Jupiter has moved westward or backward.  This will continue for most of this month.

Read  more about the planets this month.