2021, April 11: Mars Through the Bull’s Horns

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.