2020, November 23: Morning Planets Venus and Mercury

Astronomy, Sky Watching
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Venus and Mercury, November 23, 2020
2020, November 23: Venus and Mercury shine from the east-southeast before sunrise. Venus is 2.6° to the upper right of Kappa Virginis (κ Vir). Mercury is very low in the sky, 2.1° to the lower left of Zubenelgenubi.

November 23 2020: Brilliant Morning Star Venus and Mercury shine from the east-southeast before sunrise.  Venus is stepping eastward in Virgo, to the lower left of Spica.  Mercury is becoming more difficult to see as it shines from near the horizon to the lower left of Zubenelgenubi.

by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois:  Sunrise, 6:50 a.m. CST; Sunset, 4:24 p.m. CST.  Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times for your location.

2020, November 23: Venus shines from the east-southeast before sunrise.

About an hour before sunrise, Venus is low in the east-southeast.  It is stepping eastward in Virgo, to the lower left of Spica.  It is near the dim star Kappa Virginis (κ Vir).  Mercury is completing its best morning appearance of the year, and shines from low in the east-southeast, nearly 15° to the lower left of Venus.

Looking through a binocular, you can see Venus 2.6° to the upper right of κ Vir, while Mercury is 2.1° to the lower left of Zubenelgenubi.

Look for Mercury about 45 minutes before sunrise.  It is very low in the east-southeast.

Detailed note: One hour before sunrise, Venus is 15.0° in altitude in the east-southeast, 2.6° to the upper right of κ Vir. Fifteen minutes later, Mercury is nearly 5° up in the east-southeast, 2.1° to the lower left of Zubenelgenubi.  The Venus – Mercury gap is 14.7°.

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.

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