2023, November 7: Moon Targets Venus

November 7, 2023: Before sunrise, the crescent moon is above brilliant Venus. Jupiter and Saturn are easily visible after sundown.

2023, October 10: The crescent moon with earthshine
Photo Caption – 2023, October 10: The crescent moon with earthshine

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by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois:  Sunrise, 6:30 a.m. CST; Sunset, 4:38 p.m. CST.  Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program.

Summaries of Current Sky Events
Summary for Venus as a Morning Star, 2023-24

Here is today’s planet forecast:

Morning Sky

2023, November 7: Venus and the crescent moon are in the eastern sky before daybreak.
Chart Caption – 2023, November 7: Venus and the crescent moon are in the eastern sky before daybreak.

An hour before sunrise, the crescent moon, 30% illuminated, stands over halfway up in the southeast.  It is over 20° to the upper right of brilliant Venus.  Look carefully for Denebola, Leo’s tail, 16.0° to the lower left of the lunar orb.

Venus, the moon, and the star Zaniah, also known as Eta Virginis, appear in the same binocular field of view in two mornings.  Watch the moon appear closer to Venus each morning and Venus move away from Zavijava and approach Zaniah.  Venus passes Zaniah on the morning of the 13th. Use a binocular to see the distant starfield with Venus.

Crescent moon and Venus
Photo Caption – Venus and the crescent moon. Notice the “earthshine” on the night portion of the moon.

Use the binocular to look for earthshine on the moon.  The effect is from sunlight that is reflected from Earth’s oceans, clouds, and land that softly illuminates the night portion of the moon.

Watch Venus step eastward in front of Virgo.  Its daily change is easy to observe, unlike the slower-moving distant worlds.  As noted previously, it passes Zaniah in about a week.  Moving farther eastward, it passes Porrima, also known as Gamma Virginis, on the 17th.  Beginning the 22nd, it moves to within 10° of Spica, passing Virgo’s brightest star, on the 29th.

At this hour, bright Jupiter is low in the western sky.  After opposition, the planet is lower in the western sky at this hour, becoming more difficult to see from obstructions near the horizon.  Unlike Saturn, Jupiter can be seen nearly to the time when it sets.  While it becomes dimmer, it does not suffer as much from the atmosphere’s dimming and blurring effects.

Evening Sky

Mercury and Mars are not visible. They are hidden by the sun’s bright light.  Mars sets less than ten minutes after sundown, while Mercury follows nearly fifteen minutes later.

2023, November 7: An hour after sunset, Saturn is in the south-southeast, east of Deneb Algedi and west of Skat and Lambda Aquarii (λ Aqr).
Chart Caption – 2023, November 7: An hour after sunset, Saturn is in the south-southeast, east of Deneb Algedi and west of Skat and Lambda Aquarii (λ Aqr).

An hour after sundown, Saturn is over 30° up in the south-southeast.  It is slowly moving eastward in front of Aquarius, although a few days after retrograde ended, it seems stationary.  This evening it is 6.7° to the upper left of Deneb Algedi, Capricornus’ tail.  The planet is generally moving toward Skat, the Aquarian’s leg and Lambda Aquarii (λ Aqr on the chart).  Look for Fomalhaut, about 20° to the lower left of Saturn and nearly 15° above the horizon.

The Ringed Wonder is south over two hours after sundown.  It sets in the west-southwest around midnight.

2023, November 7: Two hours after nightfall, the Jupiter is in the eastern sky.
Chart Caption – 2023, November 7: Two hours after nightfall, the Jupiter is in the eastern sky.

At this hour, bright Jupiter, is nearly 15° above the eastern horizon.  Wait an hour to see it higher in the sky.  It is retrograding in front of Aries, noticeably west of an imaginary line from Hamal, the Ram’s brightest star, to Menkar, Cetus’ nostril. 

The Jovian Giant is in the south around midnight and low in the western sky during morning twilight.

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