April 11, 2021: The Red Planet is about halfway up in the western sky after sunset. Mars is marching eastward in Taurus near the Bull’s horns. Watch it move between the horns during the next few evenings.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 6:16 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 7:28 p.m. CDT. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times for your location.
Mars is nearly halfway up in the west after sunset. The planet continues its eastward march through Taurus. It is far above the “V,” made by Aldebaran and the Hyades – the Bull’s head.
During the next few evenings, watch Mars step between the Bull’s Horns, Elnath and Zeta Tauri (ζ Tau on the chart).
This evening, the planet is 3.9° to the lower left of Elnath and 4.1° to the lower right of Zeta Tauri.
The planet is dimmer than it was a several months ago when it was closest to Earth. Our planet has moved away from the Red Planet, making it dimmer in our sky.
A binocular may assist in viewing Mars with the Bull’s Horns.
This evening the moon reaches its New moon phase at 9:31 p.m. CDT. It reappears in the western evening sky in a few evenings. On April 16 and April 17, the crescent moon is near Mars and the Bull’s horns.
Here’s more about Mars during 2021.
Read about Mars during April.
Detailed Note: One hour before sunrise, Saturn is over 15° above the southeast horizon. Brighter Jupiter is 13.0° to the lower left of the Ringed Wonder. Use a binocular to observe the dimmer background stars with the planets. Saturn is 2.0° to the upper right of θ Cap, while Jupiter is 2.1° to the upper left of Deneb Algiedi. One hour after sunset, Mars is nearly halfway up in the west. It is below a line from Elnath to ζ Tau. The planet is 3.9° to the lower left of Elnath and 4.1° to the lower right of ζ Tau. The moon reaches its New moon phase at 9:31 p.m. CDT.
Read more about the planets during April 2021.
2021, April 25: Mercury-Venus Conjunction, Mars, Bright Moon
April 25, 2021: Mercury passes Evening Star Venus this evening after sunset. Look low in the western sky about 20 minutes after sunset. Mars is marching eastward in Gemini, near the star cluster Messier 35. The bright moon is near Spica.
2021, April 25: Morning Planets, Jupiter, Saturn in Southeast
April 25, 2021: Morning planets Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeast before sunrise. Jupiter is in front of the stars of Aquarius, while Saturn’s starry background is Capricornus.
2021, April 24: Evening Star, Bright Mercury, Venus, Mars, Gibbous Moon
April 24, 2021: Brilliant Evening Star Venus and bright Mercury are entering the evening sky. They are low in the west-northwest during evening twilight. The bright moon is in the southeast in Virgo. Mars moves into Gemini as it approaches the star cluster Messier 35.
2021, April 24: Lunar Occultation, Morning Planets, Jupiter Saturn
April 24, 2021: The bright gibbous moon is near a star in Virgo during the early morning. From parts of the Western Hemisphere, the moon covers the star. Before sunrise, bright morning planets, Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeast before sunrise.
2021, April 23: Evening Star Venus, Mercury, Mars, Moon
April 23, 2021: Evening Star Venus and Mercury are entering the evening sky. They are found very low in the west-northwest after sunset. The bright moon is in the southeastern sky during the early evening. Mars is moving toward the star cluster Messier 35.
Categories: Astronomy, Sky Watching
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