January 1, 2021: Brilliant Morning Planet Venus is low in the southeast before sunrise. The moon is in the west between Regulus and Pollux.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 7:18 a.m. CST; Sunset, 4:31 p.m. CST. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times for your location.
Brilliant Venus is slowly slipping to the sun’s brilliant glare. Now rising nearly 90 minutes before sunrise, the Morning Star is low in the southeast at about 45 minutes before sunrise. A clear horizon, free from trees, buildings and other obstructions, along with a cloud-free sky near the horizon, is necessary to track the planet throughout the month.
This morning the star Antares is over 12° to the upper right of the brilliant planet.
Farther westward, the moon is the western sky between Pollux and Regulus.
Read about Venus during January.
Detailed Note: Forty-five minutes before sunrise, Venus (m = −3.9) is about 6° in altitude in the southeast. It is over 12° to the lower left of Antares (α Sco, m = 1.0). The moon (17.8 days after the New moon phase, 94% illuminated) is nearly one-third of the way up in the west, between Pollux (β Gem, m = 1.2) and Regulus (α Leo, m = 1.3). The lunar orb is nearly 16° to the upper left of Pollux and over 20° to the lower right of Regulus.
Read more about the planets during January.
2021, December 28: Venus Slips, Mercury Hops
December 28, 2021: Brilliant Venus is quickly slipping from the evening sky. Mercury appears beneath Venus after sunset. This duo is joined by Jupiter and Saturn. In the morning, Mars is near Antares and the moon near Spica.
2021, December 27: Mars – Antares Conjunction
December 27, 2021: The Red Planet Mars passes Antares this morning before sunrise. At the same hour, the moon is near Spica. The three bright planets – Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter – are in the evening sky.
2021, November 25: Hello from Mars
November 25, 2021: This is my postcard to my friends on Earth.
2021, December 21: Winter Solstice
December 21, 2021: The winter solstice occurs at 9:59 a.m. CST. Mars is in the morning sky along with a bright moon. The planet pack – Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn – is in the southwestern sky after sunset.
2021, December 19-21: Gemini Moon
December 19, 20, and 21, 2021: The bright moon leading up to the winter solstice appears in the western sky before sunrise in front of Gemini.