2023, December 29: Venus Approaches Graffias, Morning December Moon

December 29, 2023: Before sunrise, in the southeast, Venus approaches Graffias. The December morning moon is in the western sky.

2021, October 8: The crescent moon and Venus with Scorpius.
Photo Caption – 2021, October 8: The crescent moon and Venus with Scorpius.

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by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois:  Sunrise, 7:18 a.m. CST; Sunset, 4:28 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

Venus Approaches Graffias

Venus approaches Graffias - 2023, December 29: One hour before daybreak, Venus approaches Graffias, part of Scorpius.
Chart Caption – 2023, December 29: One hour before daybreak, Venus approaches Graffias, part of Scorpius.

One hour before sunrise, Venus approaches Graffias, meaning “the crab,” that is part of Scorpius.  The brilliant planet is less than 20° above the horizon at this hour, and 4.1° to the upper right of the star.  Venus moves in front of Scorpius’ stars on New Year’s morning and passes by the star. Watch each morning as Venus continues to approach Graffias.

The Scorpion reaches westward across the southeast horizon this morning.  The creature takes about two more months to fully crawl into the morning sky.

Antares, the heart of the Scorpion is over 6° above the horizon and about 12° to the lower left of Venus.

Morning Moon

Venus approaches Graffias - 2023, December 29: One hour before sunrise, the bright December moon is in the western sky to the upper left of Castor and Pollux, the Gemini Twins.
Chart Caption – 2023, December 29: One hour before sunrise, the bright December moon is in the western sky to the upper left of Castor and Pollux, the Gemini Twins.

Farther westward, the bright gibbous moon, 94% illuminated, is about 30° up in the west, casting its light across the landscape.  The moon is in front of dim Cancer, about 15° to the upper left of Castor and Pollux, the Gemini Twins.

Mercury and Mars

Mercury and Mars are moving into the morning.  Mercury moves much faster, approaching a nice morning appearance to the lower left of Venus during mid-January.  Mars is slowly plodding eastward, but rising nearly 50 minutes before the sun, while Mercury rises almost 20 minutes earlier.  Both are dim and awash in morning twilight.

Evening Sky

Saturn

Venus approaches Graffias - 2023, December 29: Saturn is in the south-southwest after sundown.
Chart Caption – 2023, December 29: Saturn is in the south-southwest after sundown.

Two bright planets, Jupiter and Saturn are in the evening sky.  Begin in the south-southwest with Saturn.  The planet is over 30° above the horizon at an hour after nightfall.  It is slowly moving eastward in front of Aquarius, 8.9° to the right of Skat, the Aquarian’s leg, and the same distance to the lower right of Lambda Aquarii (λ on the chart).  The planet is nearly 20° to the upper right of Fomalhaut that is slightly dimmer than the planet.

Venus approaches Graffias - 2023, December 29: Jupiter shines from the southeast after sunset.
Chart Caption – 2023, December 29: Jupiter shines from the southeast after sunset.

Jupiter

Bright Jupiter is farther eastward at this hour, over halfway up in the southeast.  The planet’s retrograde ends tomorrow, resuming its direct or eastward motion.  The planet is in front of Aries, 11.4° to the lower right of Aries’ Hamal, and 14.5° to the upper right of Menkar, part of Cetus.  The planet is west of an imaginary line between the stellar pair.  During the next several weeks, watch Jupiter close in on that line.

Venus approaches Graffias - 2023, December 29: Five hours after sundown, the gibbous moon is over halfway from Pollux to Regulus.
Chart Caption – 2023, December 29: Five hours after sundown, the gibbous moon is over halfway from Pollux to Regulus.

The gibbous moon, 90% illuminated, rises three hours after sundown.  Two hours later, about time Saturn sets, it is nearly 25° above the east horizon.  Still in front of Cancer’s dim stars, the lunar orb is over halfway from Pollux, halfway up in the east, and Regulus, Leo’s brightest star, that is nearly 10° above the horizon.

Jupiter is south about an hour before Saturn sets.  The Jovian Giant sets in the west about five hours before sunrise.  Tomorrow morning, the moon is in the west, when Venus gleams in the east near Graffias.

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