2022, March 4: Morning Planets, Evening Moon

March 4, 2022: Two mornings, before their second conjunction of three, brilliant Venus and Mars, are in the southeast before sunrise.  The thin evening moon is visible in the west-southwest after sunset.

2022, March 4: Venus and Mars are in the southeast before sunrise.
Chart Caption – 2022, March 4: Venus and Mars are in the southeast before sunrise.

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by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois:  Sunrise, 6:21 a.m. CST; Sunset, 5:45 p.m. CST.  Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times for your location.

Morning Sky

SUMMARY OF PLANETS IN 2022 MORNING SKY

In two mornings, brilliant Venus passes Mars.  Today at 45 minutes before sunrise, Morning star Venus is about 15° above the southeast horizon.  The Red Planet is 4.7° to the lower right of the brilliant planet.

A binocular may be necessary to be sure that you are seeing Mars.  Both planets fit into a binocular field of view.

 Evening Sky

2022, March 4: A thin crescent moon is visible in the west after sunset.
Chart Caption – 2022, March 4: A thin crescent moon is visible in the west after sunset.

A thin crescent moon is visible in the west-southwest after sunset. The lunar slice is over 16° above the west-southwest horizon at 45 minutes after sunset.  The phase is slim, only 6% illuminated.  The moon is among the dim stars of Cetus, the Sea Monster.

Use a binocular to see earthshine on the moon.  This is reflected sunlight from Earth’s oceans, clouds, and land that gently illuminates the night portion of the lunarscape.

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