March 9, 2021: The moon joins Saturn, Jupiter, and Mercury in the southeastern sky before sunrise.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 6:12 a.m. CST; Sunset, 5:51 p.m. CST. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times for your location.
This morning the crescent moon is low in the southeast about 45 minutes before sunrise. Look for Saturn 7.9° to the upper left of the lunar slice. Jupiter is in the sky as well, but only about 4° above the east-southeastern horizon and 9.1° to the lower left of Saturn.
Fifteen minutes later, Jupiter is higher in the sky, but a binocular is needed to see the planets in the brighter sky of the approaching sunrise. At this time Mercury is 3.5° to the lower left of the Jovian Giant.
Find a clear, unobstructed horizon to view this morning quartet.
Detailed Note: Forty-five minutes before sunrise, the crescent moon (25.7d, 16%) is about 7° up in the southeast. Saturn – nearly 8° up in the east-southeast – is 7.9° to the upper left of the lunar slice. At this hour, Jupiter – nearly 4° up in the east-southeast – is 9.1° to the lower left of Saturn. Fifteen minutes later, Jupiter is over 6° in altitude. Mercury is 3.5° to the lower left of the Giant Planet. Use a binocular to see them. One hour after sunset, Mars is high in the west-southwest, 4.0° to the upper left of Alcyone and 9.6° to the lower right of Aldebaran. Use a binocular to spot the planet with the starfield with the Hyades and the Pleiades. Mars is 0.3° to the lower right of 37 Tau, and above a line from Alcyone to Aldebaran.
Read more about the planets during March 2021.
2022, January 3: Venus – Moon Conjunction
January 3, 2022: The moon passes Venus for the final time of this evening appearance of Venus. As night falls, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter are visible in the southwest. Mars is in the southeast before sunrise.
2021, December 30: Sirius at Midnight
December 30, 2021: As the year ends and the new one opens, the night sky’s brightest star – Sirius – is in the southern sky at the midnight hour.
2021, December 31: Mars – Moon Conjunction, Four Evening Planets
December 31, 2021: This morning before sunup, the thin waning crescent moon appears near Mars and the star Antares. Four planets – Venus, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter – are on parade in the southwest after sundown.
2021, December 30: Scorpion Morning Moon, Four Evening Planets
December 30, 2021: The morning crescent moon seems to be captured in the Scorpion’s pincers to the upper right of Mars. Four Evening Planets – Venus, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter – are in the southwest after sundown.
2021, December 28: Andromeda High in South
December 28, 2021: The Great Andromeda Galaxy is nearly overhead at the end of the evening twilight.
Categories: Astronomy, Sky Watching
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