December 27, 2020: Jupiter and Saturn appear lower in the southwest, less than a week after the Great Conjunction. Jupiter is 0.7° to the upper left of Saturn. Mars is farther east. The bright moon is in Taurus.
Month: December 2020
2020, December 26: The Great Conjunction Breaks Up
December 26, 2020: The gap between Jupiter and Saturn grows after their Great Conjunction five days ago. Find them low in the southwest after sunset. Farther eastward bright Mars parades through Pisces, while the bright moon is in the east.
2020, December 25: Jupiter Steps Away From Saturn
December 25, 2020: The gap between bright Jupiter and Saturn widens each evening. Find them low in the southwest as night falls. Bright Mars is to the upper right of the gibbous moon. The Red Planet marches eastward in Pisces.
2020, December 25-31: Venus in Southeast
December 25-31, 2020: Venus slowly slides into bright morning twilight. It is the bright star in the southeast before sunrise. Venus is to the upper left of the star Antares. During the week, the gap widens as Venus appears lower and Antares is higher in the sky.
2020, December 24: Jupiter, Saturn Gap Widens
December 24, 2020: Jupiter and Saturn continue to shine together in the west after sunset. The Jupiter – Saturn gap widens each evening. The gibbous moon and Mars are in the southeast after sunset.
2020, December 24: Venus and Antares
December 24, 2020: Venus continues to appear lower in the southeastern sky before sunrise. It appears to the upper left of Antares, now making its first morning appearance. Find a clear horizon toward the southeast to see the planet and the star.
2020, December 23: Jupiter, Saturn Split
December 23, 2020: Jupiter inches away from Saturn as the gap between the planets grows slightly. The gibbous moon and Red Planet Mars are on the southeast after sunset.
2020, December 23: Antares Heliacal Rising
December 23, 2020: Brilliant Morning Star Venus shines from the southeast before sunrise. It passes 5.5° to the upper left of Antares. The star is at its heliacal rising (first morning appearance).
2020, December 22: Jupiter, Saturn Great Conjunction, The Evening After
December 22, 2020: Jupiter inches away from Saturn as the gap between the planets grows slightly. The gibbous moon and Red Planet Mars are on the southeast after sunset.
2020, December 22: Venus, Low in Southeast
December 22, 2020: Venus is the last bright planet visible in the morning sky from last summer’s planet parade. Find it low in the southeast before sunrise among the stars of Ophiuchus.