The last quarter moon (overexposed in the image) joins the morning planet parade this morning. The moon is 7 degrees from Mars which is marching eastward toward Saturn, 12.6 degrees to the left of Mars. Mars passes this ringed wonder April 2.
Bright Jupiter is farther west near the two bright stars in Libra (Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali). Yesterday, Jupiter stopped moving eastward compared to the starry background. This morning, it is 7.9 degrees from Zubenelgenubi. Watch Jupiter move westward and close the gap during the next few months. It passes the star in early June.
While overexposed in the top image. The moon takes some clarity in this image.
The articles that follow provide details about the planets visible without optical assistance (binoculars or telescope):
- Chart and Image Collection
- 2018: The Morning Sky
- 2018: The Evening Sky
- 2018, March 18: Venus, Mercury and the Moon
- 2018, April 2: Saturn-Mars Conjunction
- 2018: Mercury in the Morning Sky
- 2018: Mercury in the Evening Sky
- 2018: Five Planets Visible at Once
- 2018: Venus the Evening Star
- 2017-2019: Mars Observing Year with a Perihelic Opposition, July 27, 2018
- 2018: Mars Perihelic Opposition
- 2017-2018: Jupiter’s Year in the Claws of the Scorpion, A Triple Conjunction