2024, February 5:  February Crescent Moon Approaches Venus

February 5, 2024:  The February crescent moon approaches Venus before sunrise.  Jupiter and Saturn are visible after sundown.

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by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Venus and Moon, December 11, 2020
2020, December 11: One hour before sunrise, the crescent moon is to the upper right of brilliant Morning Star Venus.

Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 6:59 a.m. CST; Sunset, 5:11 p.m. CST.  Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program.

Sunrise occurs before 7 a.m. CST in Chicago.  The rising time is earlier through the summer solstice.  When daylight time begins on March 10th and an hour is added to the clock, sunrise occurs at 7:10 a.m.  At sunrise on the summer solstice, the time is 4:16 a.m. standard time before the daylight time’s hour is added.  On the daylight saving clock, sunrise returns to 7 a.m. in Chicago on October 12th.  When standard time returns November 3rd, the sun rises at 6:26 a.m.  Sunrise occurs after 7 a.m. beginning December 3rd.

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

Here is today’s planet forecast:

Morning Sky

February Crescent Moon Approaches Venus

2024, February 5: The crescent moon and Venus are in the southeastern sky before sunrise.
February Crescent Moon approaches Venus – Chart Caption – 2024, February 5: The crescent moon and Venus are in the southeastern sky before sunrise.

This morning, the crescent moon approaches Venus.  At forty-five minutes before daybreak, the crescent moon, 25% illuminated, is less than 20° up in the south-southeast and 6.6° to the lower left of Antares, Scorpius’ brightest star.

The Scorpion’s tail, marked by Shaula and Lesath, also known as the Cat’s Eyes, are nearly 12° to the lower left of the lunar orb.

2020, July 17: The crescent moon appears near Venus before sunrise. The night portion of the moon is gently illuminated by earthshine.
Photo Caption – 2020, July 17: The crescent moon appears near Venus before sunrise. The night portion of the moon is gently illuminated by earthshine.

Notice earthshine on the moon between the moon’s horns or cusps.  This soft glow is sunlight that is reflected from Earth’s oceans, clouds, and land.  This effect is visible to the unaided eye, but the view is improved with a binocular.  Photograph it with a tripod-mounted camera and exposures up to a few seconds, depending on the camera’s settings.

Brilliant Venus is less than 10° up in the southeast and nearly 30° to the lower left of the lunar orb.  The planet steps eastward in front of Sagittarius.  Use a binocular to find the constellation’s brighter stars, such as Kaus Borealis and Nunki.

Mars, Mercury

Venus is overtaking Mars, nearly 8° to the lower left of Venus and not easily visible. The Morning Star passes the Red Planet on the 22nd.

Mercury retreats into bright morning twilight, heading toward its solar superior conjunction at month’s end.  It is lost in the sun’s glare.

Evening Sky

Saturn

2024, February 5: Saturn is in the west-southwest after sundown.
Chart Caption – 2024, February 5: Saturn is in the west-southwest after sundown.

An hour after sundown, Saturn is less than 10° above the west-southwest horizon.  The Ringed Wonder is beginning a slide into evening twilight. Saturn becomes more difficult to see each evening. This evening, it sets only one hundred minutes after nightfall. It passes behind the sun on the 28th, the same day when Mercury is at superior conjunction.

Jupiter

2024, February 5: After sunset, Jupiter is high in the south-southwest.
Chart Caption – 2024, February 5: After sunset, Jupiter is high in the south-southwest.

Bright Jupiter is high in the south-southwest.  It is the brightest starlike body in the sky tonight.  The Jovian Giant is noticeably, but slowly moving eastward in front of Aries.  It is approaching an imaginary line made by Hamal, part of the Ram, and Menkar, Cetus’ nostril.

Jupiter sets in the west-northwest after midnight.

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