January 6-10, 2021: Each morning the moon moves through the starfield, displays its waning phases to approach Morning Star Venus.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
During the mornings of January 6-10, the moon appears farther eastward as it moves toward Venus that is low in the southeast.
Venus is slowly sliding into the sun’s glare. Look for it very low in the southeast before sunrise.
Read about Venus during January.
The moon appears farther eastward each morning as it approaches Venus for a picturesque pose on the morning of January 11.
Here’s what to look for each morning:
- January 6: The moon displays its Last Quarter phase at 3:37 a.m. CST. Forty-five minutes before sunrise, the moon is about halfway up in the south-southwest, 8.4° to the upper right of the star Spica
- January 7: The moon, 37% illuminated, is 38.0° up in the south, 9.8° to the upper left of Spica. During brighter twilight, Venus is about 6° up in the southeast.
- January 8: The moon, 26% illuminated and over one-third of the way up in the south-southeast, is 2.3° to the upper left of the star Zubenelgenubi.
- January 9: The crescent moon is over 20° in altitude above the southeast horizon. It is 2.2° to the upper right of the star Graffias.
- January 10: The crescent moon the moon is 7.0° to the left of the star Antares. Find Venus over 5° in altitude in the southeast.
Read more about the planets during January.
2021, April 21: Evening Star Venus, Gibbous Moon, Mars
April 21, 2021: Evening Star is making its first appearance in the west-northwest shortly after sunset. The gibbous moon is near Leo, while Mars is near the foot of Castor.
2021, April 21: Morning Planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Capricornus
April 21, 2021: Jupiter and Saturn are the bright morning planets in the southeast before sunrise. The stars are in front of the backdrop of Capricornus. The constellation looks like an oversized boomerang or stealth fighter.
2021, April 20: Venus, Gibbous Moon, Mars, Evening Wonders
April 20, 2021: Venus is very low in the west-northwest after sunset. The gibbous moon is in Cancer, between Regulus and Pollux. Mars, above the horns of Taurus, approaches the star cluster Messier 35.
2021, April 20: Bright Jupiter, Saturn, Morning Planets
April 20, 2021: Bright Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeastern sky before sunrise, gently moving eastward compared to the starry backdrop of Capricornus.
2021, April 19: First Evening Appearance of Venus
April 19, 2021: The first evening appearance of Venus for this apparition occurs this evening. Look for it low in the west-northwest about 20 minutes after sunset.
Categories: Astronomy, Sky Watching
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