2024, April 30: Moon Targets Morning Planets

April 30, 2024: Before sunrise, the waning gibbous moon targets morning planets Mars and Saturn.  Jupiter fades into evening twilight.

2022, March 28: A close bunching of Venus, Saturn, Mars, and the crescent moon.
Photo Caption – 2022, March 28: A close bunching of Venus, Saturn, Mars, and the crescent moon.

PODCAST FOR THIS ARTICLE

by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 5:48 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 7:49 p.m. CDT.  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

Moon Targets Morning Planets

Moon Targets Morning Planets
Chart Caption – 2024, April 30: Mars, Saturn and the gibbous moon are visible before sunrise.

This morning, the gibbous moon, 62% illuminated, is nearly 20° above the south-southeast horizon.  It is heading for an appearance with Mars and Saturn in the eastern sky in a few mornings.  The morning half phase, known as Last Quarter, occurs tomorrow at 6:27 a.m. CDT.

At 45 minutes before daybreak, Saturn is nearly 15° up in the east-southeast.  It rises two minutes earlier each morning compared to sunrise.

Mars, slightly brighter than Saturn, is over 7° above the eastern horizon and 13.2° to the Ringed Wonder’s lower left.  The Red Planet marches eastward faster than Saturn, opening a gap between them.

Mars seems to be lingering lower in the sky.  It does not rise until the beginning of morning twilight until the end of May.

Mercury and Venus

Mercury and Venus are veiled in bright morning twilight.  Mercury is moving toward an unfavorable viewing before sunrise.  On its best morning, it is very low in the sky.

Venus is moving toward the evening sky, but it is still west of the sun.  It reaches solar conjunction during early June, followed by a wide swing into the western evening sky.

Evening Sky

Jupiter

2024, April 30: Jupiter is low in the west-northwest after sundown.
Chart Caption – 2024, April 30: Jupiter is low in the west-northwest after sundown.

Bright Jupiter is departing the evening sky.  It passes solar conjunction on May 18th and then moves into the eastern morning sky.

Unlike other planets and stars, Jupiter can be seen near the horizon, where the thicker air dims, blurs, and reddens celestial bodies.  Certainly, the planet is affected by those filtering effects, but it is visible from a suitable viewing site free from clouds and visual obstructions.

Rigel at Heliacal Setting

When looking for Jupiter, is Rigel, Orion’s knee still visible low in the west-southwest?  Do not confuse it with bright Sirius that is likely twinkling wildly in the southwestern sky.  Rigel is at its heliacal setting or last evening appearance for many sky watchers at the mid-northern latitudes.

Jupiter sets 66 minutes after the sun, ending the sparse planet activity for the day.

RECENT PODCASTS

LATEST ARTICLES