Still visible low in the western sky during evening twilight, Venus treks through Virgo during 39 evenings, beginning August 10. During mid-August attempt to view five planets in the sky simultaneously. The challenging view is with Mercury and Mars that are low in the western sky during very bright twilight. Venus passes Spica on September 5. A nice grouping of Venus, the moon, and Spica occurs on September 9. Near mid-month, Venus begins to rapidly close on Earth. The planet quickly brightens in the sky. After late September, Venus begins to set after the end of evening twilight.
The time interval for the descriptions and charts is 45 minutes after sunset. To track Venus as it moves through the constellation and passes dimmer stars, see this, semi-technical summary.
Venus as an Evening Star Article
On August 10 and August 11, the crescent moon is near Venus. On August 10, the moon – 7% illuminated – is 5.7° to the right of Venus.
On the next evening the moon – 14% illuminated – is 8.1° to the upper left of the brilliant planet.
During mid-August, it may be possible to see five planets simultaneously. Mercury and Mars are the challenging grouping. Mercury is making a poorly-observed visit.
On August 24, Venus passes 2.5° to the lower left of Gamma Virginis (γ Vir on the chart).
Venus passes Spica, the constellation’s brightest star on September 5, when the planet is 1.5° to the upper right of the star.
On September 9, less than 8° above the west-southwest horizon, Venus is 3.9° to the lower left of the moon. Notice Spica, 5.0° from Venus, makes a nice triangle with the planet and the moon. Spica is 4.8° below the moon. The chart above shows a simulated binocular view of the scene. See them low in the west-southwest.
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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