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.
2020, December 11: Jupiter, Saturn Conjunction Nears, Mars in Southeast
December 11, 2020: The Great Conjunction countdown: 10 days! Jupiter and Saturn are low in the southwest as night falls. Jupiter continues to close the gap to the Ringed Wonder. Farther eastward, Mars marches eastward in Pisces.
2020, December 11: Moon Nears Venus
December 11, 2020: As sunrise approaches, the crescent moon is to the upper right of the brilliant planet Venus.
2020, December 10: Bright Mars in East, Jupiter Closes on Saturn
December 10, 2020: The Great Conjunction countdown: 11 days. Jupiter and Saturn are in the southwest as night falls. Bright Mars is in the southeast.
Categories: Astronomy, Sky Watching
