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.
2022, January 3: Venus – Moon Conjunction
January 3, 2022: The moon passes Venus for the final time of this evening appearance of Venus. As night falls, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter are visible in the southwest. Mars is in the southeast before sunrise.
2021, December 30: Sirius at Midnight
December 30, 2021: As the year ends and the new one opens, the night sky’s brightest star – Sirius – is in the southern sky at the midnight hour.
2021, December 31: Mars – Moon Conjunction, Four Evening Planets
December 31, 2021: This morning before sunup, the thin waning crescent moon appears near Mars and the star Antares. Four planets – Venus, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter – are on parade in the southwest after sundown.
2021, December 30: Scorpion Morning Moon, Four Evening Planets
December 30, 2021: The morning crescent moon seems to be captured in the Scorpion’s pincers to the upper right of Mars. Four Evening Planets – Venus, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter – are in the southwest after sundown.
2021, December 28: Andromeda High in South
December 28, 2021: The Great Andromeda Galaxy is nearly overhead at the end of the evening twilight.
Categories: Astronomy, Sky Watching
Leave a Reply