After superior conjunction (March 26, 2021), Venus slowly emerges into the western evening sky during bright twilight. The closest Venus – moon grouping occurs on May 12. Venus is moving eastward in Taurus.
Venus as an Evening Star, semi-technical summary
On April 19, Venus sets at Civil Twilight, when the sun is only 6° below the horizon at 30 minutes after sunset. During the next few evenings, begin looking for Venus about 2° above the west-northwest horizon at about 20 minutes after sunset. Use a binocular to first locate it. It is making its first evening appearance of this apparition.
On May 12, Venus – about 5° up in the west-northwest – is 1.2° to the right of the thin crescent moon. This is the closest Venus – moon grouping for this apparition.
A few nights later, on May 16, Venus – 6.0° up in the west-northwest – is 5.7° to the upper right of Aldebaran. This is a challenging observation as the star is only 3.0° in altitude. Use a binocular to see the scene.
On May 21, Venus sets at Nautical Twilight, when the sun is 12° below the horizon at 74 minutes after sunset.
Venus as an Evening Star Article
2021, April 29: Evening Star Venus, Mercury, Mars in Gemini
April 29, 2021: Evening Star Venus and bright Mercury are in the west-northwest during bright twilight. As the sky darkens, Mars is at the feet of Gemini in the western sky. Through a binocular the Red Planet is above the star cluster Messier 35.
2021, April 29: Morning Planets Jupiter, Saturn, Bright Moon
April 29, 2021: The bright moon is in the southwest before sunrise, near the star Antares. The morning planets, Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeast. The planets are 15.0° apart.
2021, April 28: Evening Star Venus, Mercury, Mars, Moon
April 28, 2021: Evening Star Venus and bright Mercury are low in the west-northwest during bright evening twilight. Later during the evening, Mars is at the feet of Gemini. Use a binocular to spot the star cluster Messier 35 below the Red Planet. Near midnight, the moon is in the southeast near Antares.
2021, April 28: Morning Moon in Pincers, Jupiter Saturn
Advertisements April 28, 2021: This morning the bright moon appears to be caught in the pincers of the Scorpion and near the creature’s forehead. Bright morning planets Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeast before sunrise. by Jeffrey L. Hunt Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 5:51 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 7:46 p.m. CDT. Check local sources for sunrise… Read More ›
2021, April 27: Evening Star Venus, Mercury, Mars, Moon in Pincers
April 27, 2021: Evening Star Venus and Mercury climb into the evening sky in the west-northwest after sunset. In a darker sky, Mars marches eastward in Gemini, near the feet of the Twins. Look for the moon caught in the pincers of the Scorpion.
Categories: Astronomy, Sky Watching
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