November 19, 2020: Brilliant Morning Star Venus, the star Spica, and Mercury are in the east- southeastern sky before sunrise.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 6:46 a.m. CST; Sunset, 4:26 p.m. CST. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times for your location.
Brilliant Morning Star Venus – rising nearly 2 hours, 40 minutes before sunrise – is in the east-southeast as morning twilight brightens. This morning the planet is 5.0° to the lower left of Spica. With a binocular notice that it is 0.4° to the lower left of the star 82 Virginis (82 Vir on the chart).
At 45 minutes before sunrise, Mercury is over 13° to the lower left of Venus. It is low in the sky in the east-southeast, perhaps behind a neighbor’s house or other obstruction. It is bright enough to be seen without optical aid.
Detailed note: One hour before sunrise, Venus – over 16° in altitude in the east-southeast – is 5.0° to the lower left of Spica and 0.4° to the lower left of 82 Vir. The Venus – Mercury gap is 13.6° with Mercury to the lower left of the brilliant planet. Fifteen minutes later, Mercury is nearly 7° in altitude above the east-southeast horizon.
See our summary about Venus during November 2020 and the feature article about Venus as a Morning Star.
Read more about the planets during November.
LATEST ARTICLES
- 2026, November 6: Autumn’s Midpoint: Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn
November 6, 2026: Find the crescent moon and Venus before sunrise, follow Mars toward Jupiter and Regulus, and observe Saturn through a telescope after sunset. - 2026, November 5: See Four Celestial Objects in the Morning Sky
November 5, 2026: Find Venus, Jupiter, Mars, and the crescent moon before sunrise. Learn how to spot Spica, follow Mars toward Jupiter, and photograph earthshine. - 2026, November 4-7: Watch Venus Meet the Crescent Moon and Spica
November 4-7, 2026: Watch the waning crescent moon approach Venus and Spica before sunrise. Learn when to see the trio and photograph earthshine. - 2026, November 3: Moon, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and Saturn: Today’s Highlights
November 3, 2026: Find the crescent moon near Jupiter, Mars, and Regulus before sunrise. See Venus near Spica and observe Saturn through a telescope after sunset. - 2026, November 2: Jupiter, Mars, and Moon Gather Near Regulus
November 2, 2026: Watch Jupiter, Mars, Moon, gather near Regulus before sunrise. This grouping is part of a rare series of gatherings of the three solar system bodies with Regulus.