2024, February 7: A February Morning Venus-Moon Conjunction

February 7, 2024: Find the February morning Venus-Moon conjunction in the southeast before sunrise.  Use a binocular to spot Venus approaching Mars.

2022, February 26: Venus, Mars, and the moon before sunrise in the southeast.
Photo Caption – 2022, February 26: Venus, Mars, and the moon before sunrise in the southeast.

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by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 6:57 a.m. CST; Sunset, 5:13 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

A February Morning Venus-Moon Conjunction

2024, February 7: Venus and the crescent moon are in the southeast before sunrise.
February Morning Venus-Moon Conjunction – 2024, February 7: Venus and the crescent moon are in the southeast before sunrise.

This morning, Venus and the crescent moon appear in the southeastern sky before daybreak.  While not the closest conjunction of this morning apparition of Venus, the pair makes a lovely view about 45 minutes before sunrise.

At that time the Morning Star is less than 10° above the horizon, so find an unobstructed view in that direction.  Find the crescent moon, 7.3° to the lower right of the dazzling planet.

Venus and the moon are in front of Sagittarius.  Use a binocular to see the stars Kaus Borealis (λ on the chart) and Nunki (σ).

The moon is at the New moon phase on the 9th at 4:59 p.m. CST.  It reappears in the evening sky, near Saturn on the 10th.

Mars continues its slow emergence from bright sunlight, but it hides in morning twilight.  Venus passes Mars on the 22nd.

A Binocular View: Venus and Mars

2024, February 7: Through a binocular, Venus and Mars fit into the same field of view.
Chart Caption – 2024, February 7: Through a binocular, Venus and Mars fit into the same field of view.

This morning is the first opportunity to see Venus and Mars in the same binocular field of view.  They fit snugly into the view on nearly opposite sides of the field.  By thirty minutes before sunup, the Red Planet is over 5° above the horizon and 7.1° to Venus’ lower left.  Each clear morning watch Venus overtake Mars.

Mercury

Mercury is moving toward superior conjunction on the 28th at the sun’s far side.  It rises over thirty minutes before sunrise and is in bright sunlight for northern hemisphere sky watchers.

Evening Sky

Saturn

2024, February 7: Saturn is low in the west-southwest at forty-five minutes after sunset.
Chart Caption – 2024, February 7: Saturn is low in the west-southwest at forty-five minutes after sunset.

Saturn is quickly leaving the evening sky.  It is too low for telescopic observations as the haze near the horizon blurs and dims celestial objects.  At forty-five minutes after sundown, the Ringed Wonder is less than 10° above the west-southwest horizon.  Setting about ninety minutes after the sun and four minutes earlier compared to sunset each evening, the planet sets before the end of evening twilight tonight. 

Jupiter

2024, February 7: Jupiter is high in the south-southwest after sundown.
Chart Caption – 2024, February 7: Jupiter is high in the south-southwest after sundown.

Jupiter is the bright star high in the south-southwest sky after sunset.  From night to night, spot its slow eastward motion in front of Aries.  This evening, it is 11.0° to the lower left of Hamal, the Ram’s brightest star, and 13.3° to the upper right of Menkar, Cetus’ nostril.  The planet is approaching an imaginary line between the two stars. 

Since Jupiter’s retrograde ended December 30th, the planet’s position is noticeably eastward each evening.  It shines from the western sky each clear evening through mid-spring.

Use a binocular to look at the Pleiades star cluster, to the Jovian Giant’s upper left.  The sapphire stars resemble a tiny dipper.  Count a few dozen stars in the binocular’s field.

Find Planet Uranus

The planet Uranus is about mid-way from Jupiter to the Pleiades.  It is too far away from each celestial wonder to fit into the same binocular field of view with them.  The planet is visible in the darkest areas without outdoor lighting and the presence of a bright moon.

Planet Uranus is relatively easy to find.  Use the chart from a recent article to locate the planet through a binocular, starting at the star cluster.

Jupiter sets after midnight and the beginning of a new calendar day.

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