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, August 14: Waxing Moon, Stellar Double
August 14, 2021: This evening the waxing moon is near Zubenelgenubi, the southern claw, that is a stellar double. Use a binocular to see both stars that are in a gravitation dance.
2021, August 13: Evening Sky, Bright Planets
August 13, 2021: This evening the crescent moon appears between Evening Star Venus and Spica as the lunar slice dances eastward. Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeastern sky.
2021, August 12: Evening Sky, Lunar Dance
August 12, 2021: This evening the crescent moon appears between Venus and Spica as the lunar slice dances eastward.
2021, August 11: Waxing Moon, Evening Star
August 11, 2021: The waxing crescent moon is to the upper left of Evening Star Venus this evening in the western sky.
2021, August 10: Evening Star Venus, Crescent Moon
August 10, 2021: The crescent moon is near Venus in the western sky after sunset.
Categories: Astronomy, Sky Watching
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