2024, April 29: Morning Gibbous Moon

April 29, 2024: This morning the gibbous moon is with Sagittarius in the south.  Look for Mars and Saturn before sunrise, while Jupiter is slipping from the evening sky.

Mars and Moon, September 6, 2020
Photo Caption – 2020, September 6: Mars and Moon. (Composite image)

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by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 5:49 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 7:48 p.m. CDT.  Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program.

At Chicago’s latitude, daylight passes through 14 hours today and tomorrow. The 15-hour mark is reached in a month.

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

Here is today’s planet forecast:

Morning Sky

Morning Gibbous Moon

Morning Gibbous Moon
Chart Caption – 2024, April 29: The moon is with Sagittarius before sunrise.

The morning gibbous moon, 74% illuminated, is about 20° above the southern horizon.  It is in front of Sagittarius’ distant stars. The lunar orb is at the Teapot’s handle, a modern moniker for Sagittarius brighter stars, although they are generally dimmer than those that make the Big Dipper. At this level of moonlight, the stars are visible through a binocular.

The moon is at the morning half phase, known as Last Quarter, on May Day at 6:27 a.m. CDT.

The moon is beginning a long-range approach to Saturn in the eastern sky.  At 45 minutes before daybreak, the Ringed Wonder is over 10° above the east-southeast horizon.  Saturn is rising before the beginning of morning twilight, becoming easier to see each morning.

Mars and Saturn

2024, April 29: Mars and Saturn are in the eastern sky before sunrise.
Chart Caption – 2024, April 29: Mars and Saturn are in the eastern sky before sunrise.

Mars is nearly 10° above the eastern horizon and 12.4° to Saturn’s lower left. Use the binocular to see it.  The planet marches eastward, widening the gap to Saturn.  This eastward step is delaying the Red Planet’s entry into a darker sky.  It does not rise before the beginning of twilight until May’s end.

The moon is west of Saturn on May 3rd and between Mars and Saturn the next morning.

Mercury and Venus

Mercury is entering the morning sky, rising 45 minutes before sunrise.  It reaches its largest separation from the sun, known as greatest elongation, on May 9th.  The appearance is very challenging to see for sky watchers at the mid-northern latitudes.  On the best morning, the speedy planet is less than 3° above the horizon at 45 minutes before daybreak.

Venus is not visible, as it is in the bright light that occurs immediately before sunup.  It is at solar conjunction during early June, followed by a wide swing into the western evening sky.

Evening Sky

Rigel at Heliacal Setting

Rigel nears heliacal setting
Chart Caption – 2024, April 29: Rigel is near its heliacal setting in the west-southwest after nightfall.

Depending on latitude, clarity of sky, and geographic features at the horizon, Rigel – Orion’s knee – is leaving the evening sky.  It is at its heliacal setting or the last appearance after sunset.  The star then passes behind the sun and reappears in the eastern sky during late July – its first morning appearance or heliacal rising.

Jupiter

2024, April 29: Jupiter is low in the west-northwest after sundown.
Chart Caption – 2024, April 29: Jupiter is low in the west-northwest after sundown.

Jupiter is departing the evening sky before its solar conjunction this month.  At 45 minutes after sundown, find a favorable viewing location to spot it near the west-northwest horizon.

Look for the star Aldebaran, Taurus’ brightest, over 15° to Jupiter’s upper left.

Jupiter sets 63 minutes after the sun, ending today’s planet display.

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