Brilliant planet Venus is moving through the “club” region of Orion. Tomorrow it moves into Gemini.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
On this peak Perseid meteor shower morning and the impending helical rising of Sirius, the brilliant Morning Star Venus, appears in the eastern sky.
This is the final morning that Venus is in the club area of Orion for this appearance. Venus is to the lower right of Eta Geminorum (η Gem on the photo) and Mu Geminorum (μ Gem).
In this starfield, Venus is 2.7° to the lower right of η Gem and 2.5° to the lower right of μ Gem.
Notice that Orion’s shoulders – Betelgeuse and Bellatrix – appear to the right of the Morning Star.
The planet continues to move eastward – toward the lower left on the photo.
At the beginning of the month, Venus was near Zeta Tauri (ζ Tau), that appears near the top of the image.
Venus and the crescent moon make a beautiful grouping on August 15. Get your camera ready!
Bright Mars is higher in the sky toward the south this morning.
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 19: First Evening Appearance of Venus
April 19, 2021: The first evening appearance of Venus for this apparition occurs this evening. Look for it low in the west-northwest about 20 minutes after sunset.
2021, April 19: Moon, Twins, Mars, Evening Watch
April 19, 2021: Venus begins to appear in the west after sunset. The moon lines up with Pollux and Castor, while Mars is above Bull’s horns in the western evening sky.
2021, April 19: Bright Jupiter, Saturn, Morning Planets
April 19, 2021: The bright morning planets, Jupiter and Saturn, are in the southeastern sky before sunrise. Capricornus is the starry background for this giant planet duo.
2021, April 18: Crescent Moon, Mars, Evening Sky
April 18, 2021: The crescent moon is high in the west after sunset among the stars of Gemini, below Pollux and Castor. Mars is above the Bull’s horns. Daylight is 13 hours, 30 minutes long.
2021, April 18: Jupiter, Saturn, Morning Planets
April 18, 2021: The bright morning planets, Jupiter and Saturn, are in the southeastern sky before sunrise. Capricornus is the starry background for this giant planet duo. Daylight is 13 hours, 30 minutes long.
Categories: Astronomy, Sky Watching
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