March 7, 2022: After yesterday’s conjunction, Venus continues to close in on Mars. The crescent moon is near the Pleiades star cluster after sundown.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 6:16 a.m. CST; Sunset, 5:48 p.m. CST. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times for your location.
Morning Sky
SUMMARY OF PLANETS IN 2022 MORNING SKY
Brilliant Venus is nearly 15° above the southeast horizon at 45 minutes before sunup. Mars is 4.4° to the lower right of Earth’s Twin planet. The Red Planet is over 10° above the horizon. Use a binocular to initially locate Mars. Both planets fit into the same field of view.
Yesterday, Venus passed Mars in the third conjunction of a triple conjunction series. Venus is moving closer to the plane of the solar system and to Mars. On March 16, Venus closes to 3.9° of the Red Planet for a close approach or minimum separation. There is no conjunction. Venus is east of Mars and they do not have the same celestial longitude.
This morning Venus steps into Capricornus. Mars marched into the constellation yesterday.
Evening Sky
The crescent moon, 27% illuminated is over halfway up in the west-southwest after sundown. Notice the Pleiades star cluster, about 11° above the lunar slice.
Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus, is over 20° to the upper left of the crescent.
Tomorrow evening, the moon and the Pleiades fit into the same binocular field.
RECENT PODCASTS
LATEST ARTICLES
- 2026, April 18-20: Venus, Crescent Moon, and Pleiades in the Western Sky
April 28-20, 2026: A waxing crescent moon joins Venus and the Pleiades after sunset. Look west-northwest to follow their changing positions and catch earthshine. - 2026, April 17: Arcturus and Spica Shine in the Eastern Sky After Sunset
April 17, 2026: Two bright stars, Arcturus and Spica, anchor the eastern sky after sunset while Venus and Jupiter shine in the west. Use this guide to locate them and understand their motion. - 2026, April 16: Venus and Jupiter After Sunset, Moon Near New Phase in Morning Twilight
April 16, 2026: Venus shines in the west-northwest after sunset while Jupiter stands high in the west-southwest. The moon nears New phase, hidden in bright morning twilight. - 2026, April 15: Venus and Jupiter After Sunset, Crescent Moon Low Before Sunrise
April 15, 2026: Venus and Jupiter shine after sunset while a thin crescent moon sits low before sunrise. Track Venus moving toward the Pleiades and Aldebaran. - 2026, April 14: Venus Dominates the Evening Sky with Sirius and Orion
April 14, 2026: Venus shines brightly after sunset while Sirius twinkles in the southwest. Orion stands between them as the spring sky shifts westward each evening.