2022, August 29: Morning Planets, Evening Crescent

Astronomy, Sky Watching
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August 29, 2022: Jupiter and Mars are easily visible during morning twilight.  Venus is low in the east-northeast.  The crescent moon returns to the evening sky. 

Chart Caption – 2022, August 29: Bright Jupiter is in the southwest before daybreak.

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by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois:  Sunrise, 6:13 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 7:29 p.m. CDT.  Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times for your location.

Here is the planet forecast for today:

Morning Sky

SUMMARY OF PLANETS IN 2022 MORNING SKY

Jupiter and Mars are easily visible during morning twilight.  By an hour before sunrise, Saturn is below the west-southwest horizon. Look for it in the southeast as darkness falls this evening.

Bright Jupiter is less than halfway up in the southwest.  It is with the dim stars of Cetus, the Sea Monster.  The creature’s tail – Deneb Kaitos – is the lower left of the Jovian Giant, less than one-half of the way toward the horizon.

MARS OPPOSITION 2022 SUMMARY

Mars, over 60° to the east of Jupiter, is over two-thirds of the way up in the sky above the southeast horizon.  It marches eastward in Taurus, above the Hyades star cluster.

The cluster with Aldebaran makes the “V” shape of the Bull’s head.  Its horns are tipped by Elnath – also known as Beta Tauri – and Zeta Tauri. 

The Pleiades ride on the Bull’s back.

Chart Caption – 2022: Through a binocular, Mars moves eastward near Aldebaran and the Hyades star cluster.

Use a binocular to note the planet’s spot compared to the distant stars.  Choose any star on the accompanying star chart and watch the planet pass it during the next several mornings.

The chart identifies stars in the Hyades with their star catalog names along with Aldebaran.

By 45 minutes before sunrise, Venus is about 5° above the east-northeast horizon.  It is slowly moving back into bright sunlight.  Rising less than 90 minutes before daybreak, the Morning Star is becoming more to see.

Evening Sky

Chart Caption – 2022, August 29: Forty-five minutes after sunset, the crescent moon is in the western sky.

A thin crescent moon is low in the west about forty-five minutes after sunset.  Each evening, it appears higher in the sky and with a slightly thicker crescent.

Photo Caption – 2021, January 15: The thin waxing moon with earthshine, reflected sunlight from Earth’s features gently illuminates the lunar night.

Earthshine is again visible on the night portion.  Sunlight reflected from Earth’s oceans, clouds, and land gently illuminate the lunar night.

Chart Caption – 2022, August 29: Jupiter and Saturn are in the eastern sky at the end of evening twilight.

At about this time, Saturn is low in the east-southeast.  Wait until the sky is darker and Jupiter appears in the east, about two hours after sunset.

The planet parade is shifting toward the evening sky.  Saturn leads the way, followed by Jupiter.  Mars crosses the eastern horizon over two hours after Jupiter rises.   Venus is slowly leaving the morning sky.  It passes behind the sun and enters the evening sky from the west, cutting in front to lead the parade.  Near year’s end Mercury quickly enters the evening sky, making another five-planet parade, extending eastward from the sunset point.  In order the bright planets are: Venus, Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars.

At the end of twilight this evening, bright Jupiter is above the eastern horizon, while Saturn is to its upper right in the southeast.  It is with Deneb Algedi and Nashira, in eastern Capricornus.

Chart Caption – 2022, August 29: Through a binocular, Saturn is retrograding in eastern Capricornus, near Nashira and Iota Capricorni (ι Cap).

Through a binocular, Saturn is between Nashira and Iota Capricorni (ι Cap on the chart).

By tomorrow morning at one hour before sunrise, Saturn is below the horizon and Jupiter and Mars are easily visible again.

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