Bright Jupiter and Saturn shine from the southeastern sky after sunset during August 2020.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Bright Jupiter and Saturn shine from the southeastern sky during late evening twilight this evening.
Saturn is 8.1° to the lower left of the Giant Planet. The gap between them continues to widen during the next month. In the starfield, Jupiter is 1.4° to the right of 50 Sagittarii (50 Sgr on the photo) and 2.9° to the lower left of Pi Sagittarii (π Sgr), while Saturn is 2.4° to the lower left of 56 Sagittarii (56 Sgr).
This planetary pair passed opposition last month and the planets continue to retrograde in eastern Sagittarius.
Retrograde motion is a illusion that occurs when our faster moving Earth catches up to the outer planets, passes them, and moves away.
Jupiter retrogrades until September 12, and Saturn ends its westward illusive apparent motion on September 28.
Then Jupiter approaches Saturn for a once-in-a-generation Great Conjunction on December 21, 2020. This is the closest conjunction since 1623.
As the evening progresses, Mars appears in the eastern sky as the midnight hour approaches.
Venus is above the horizon by 3 a.m. Tomorrow morning (August 13), Venus moves into Gemini.
Venus and the crescent moon make a beautiful grouping on August 15. Get your camera ready!
The window is quickly closing to see the four brightest planets in the sky together. Venus is moving eastward compared to the starry background, while Jupiter is moving westward. Venus rises as Jupiter sets on August 25. Saturn follows in early September. If you’re an early riser, what is the last date you see all four together? You’ll need clear horizons in the east-northeast and toward the southwest.
The first sightings of Sirius by the unaided eye occur this week about 45 minutes before sunrise.
Here is a daily summary about the planets during August.
2021, April 24: Evening Star, Bright Mercury, Venus, Mars, Gibbous Moon
April 24, 2021: Brilliant Evening Star Venus and bright Mercury are entering the evening sky. They are low in the west-northwest during evening twilight. The bright moon is in the southeast in Virgo. Mars moves into Gemini as it approaches the star cluster Messier 35.
2021, April 24: Lunar Occultation, Morning Planets, Jupiter Saturn
April 24, 2021: The bright gibbous moon is near a star in Virgo during the early morning. From parts of the Western Hemisphere, the moon covers the star. Before sunrise, bright morning planets, Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeast before sunrise.
2021, April 23: Evening Star Venus, Mercury, Mars, Moon
April 23, 2021: Evening Star Venus and Mercury are entering the evening sky. They are found very low in the west-northwest after sunset. The bright moon is in the southeastern sky during the early evening. Mars is moving toward the star cluster Messier 35.
2021, April 23: Jupiter, Saturn, Morning Planets
April 23, 2021: Bright Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeast before sunrise. Jupiter is the brightest “star” in the region. Saturn is to the Jovian Giant’s upper right.
2021, April 22: Brilliant Venus, Gibbous Moon, Mars
April 22, 2021: Brilliant Evening Star Venus is making its first appearance in the western sky after sunset. Look just above the horizon at 20 minutes after sunset. The bright, gibbous moon is in Leo. Mars approaches the star cluster Messier 35 in a darker sky.
Categories: Astronomy, Sky Watching
Leave a Reply Cancel reply