2024, May 30: Morning Moon Nears Saturn

May 30, 2024: Before sunrise the gibbous moon is near Saturn in the southeastern sky.  Mars is in the east.

2022, June 18: The moon (overexposed) and Saturn.
Photo Caption – 2022, June 18: The moon (overexposed) and Saturn.

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by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 5:19 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 8:18 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 and Saturn

2024, May 30: Before sunrise, the moon is near Saturn in the southeast, while Mars is in the east.
Chart Caption – 2024, May 30: Before sunrise, the moon is near Saturn in the southeast, while Mars is in the east.

An hour before daybreak, the morning half-moon, known as Last Quarter, is almost 25° above the southeast horizon.  The official phase occurs at 12:13 p.m. Central Time, near the time of moonset.

This morning, the lunar orb is less than 15° to the right of Saturn.  The yellow-orange planet is not exceedingly bright like Venus or Jupiter, but it outshines most stars this morning.

Tomorrow morning, the moon is very close to Saturn at this time interval before sunrise.  For sky watchers in southern South America, the moon occults or eclipses the planet.

Mars

Mars is farther eastward from Saturn.  It is over 10° above the east horizon and nearly 35° to Saturn’s lower left.  Marching eastward after their conjunction on April 10th, the Red Planet continues to open a wide gap to Saturn.

Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter

Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter are west of the sun as well, but they are veiled in bright twilight.  Mercury retreats toward a solar conjunction during mid-June.  The Venusian solar conjunction occurs June 4th, followed by a wide swing into the western evening sky.

Jupiter slowly emerges from bright sunlight, anticipating its first morning appearance around the time of the solstice.

Evening Sky

The Herdsman and the Crown

2024, May 30: Boötes and Corona Borealis are high in the southeast at the end of evening twilight.
Chart Caption – 2024, May 30: Boötes and Corona Borealis are high in the southeast at the end of evening twilight.

With no bright solar system bodies east of the sun and visible after sundown, several bright stars are visible.  At two hours after sundown, bright topaz Arcturus is high in the southeast.  Meaning “bear guard,” Arcturus is part of Boötes the Herdsman, a kite-shaped pattern.

The Great Bear is to Boötes upper left and during the night, the Herdsman chases the animal across the sky.

Corona Borealis is a dimmer constellation below Boötes.  From urban and suburban settings, the only star likely visible is Alphecca, also known as Gemma.  A binocular helps bring the dimmer stars of the crown into view.

Tomorrow morning, this constellation pair is in the western sky before twilight begins.

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