2021, March 12: Jupiter, Saturn Morning Planets

March 12, 2021: Look for Jupiter low in the southeast before sunrise.

by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois:  Sunrise, 6:07 a.m. CST; Sunset, 5:54 p.m. CST.  Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times for your location.

Jupiter and Saturn are low in the southeastern sky before sunrise.  Jupiter is brighter than Saturn.  The Jovian Giant is 9.5° to the lower left of the Ringed Wonder. 

Saturn is nearly 9° up in the sky.  You’ll need a cloud-free sky and an unobstructed horizon to see them about 45 minutes before sunrise.

Use a binocular to locate the star Theta Capricorni (θ Cap on the chart).  The star is nearly midway between the two planets.

Detailed Note: Forty-five minutes before sunrise, Saturn is nearly 9° above the southeast horizon.  Over 4° in altitude, Jupiter is 9.5° to Saturn’s lower left.  Use a binocular to locate Theta Capricorni (θ Cap, m = 4.1) nearly midway between the two planets.  One hour after sunset, Mars is high in the west-southwestern sky, marching eastward among the stars of Taurus.  It is 8.4° to the right of Aldebaran. Use a binocular to find 37 Tau, 1.4° to the lower right of the planet. Mars is generally moving toward neighbor stars to the upper right of the “V” of Taurus, Kappa Tauri (κ Tau, m = 4.2) and Upsilon Tauri (υ Tau, m = 4.2). This evening, Mars is 3.4° to the lower left of κ Tau and 3.6° to the lower left of υ Tau.

Read more about the planets during March 2021.