2024, June 22: See Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn before Sunrise

June 22, 2024:  Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn are in the eastern sky before sunrise.  The bright moon is in the southeastern sky near midnight.

December 27, 2017: Jupiter, Mercury & Mars
Photo Caption: December 27, 2017: Jupiter, Mercury & Mars

PODCAST FOR THIS ARTICLE

by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 5:16 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 8:30 p.m. CDT.  Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program.

Sunset occurs at the latest time.  This occurs through the 30th.

Here is today’s planet forecast:

Morning Sky

Morning Strawberry Moon

An hour before sunrise, the bright Strawberry moon is in the southwest.

Saturn

2024, June 22: Before daybreak, Saturn is in the south-southeast, to Fomalhaut’s upper left.
Chart Caption – 2024, June 22: Before daybreak, Saturn is in the south-southeast, to Fomalhaut’s upper left.

Farther eastward, Saturn is over 35° above the southeast horizon and nearly 25° to Fomalhaut’s upper left.  The Ringed Wonder is in front of Aquarius’ dim stars, washed out further by the bright moonlight.

Jupiter and Mars

2024, June 22: Jupiter and Mars are in the eastern sky before sunrise.
Chart Caption – 2024, June 22: Jupiter and Mars are in the eastern sky before sunrise.

Mars is over 20° above the east horizon.  It is marching eastward in front of Aries, heading toward Jupiter and passing by on August 14th.  Look each morning to see the gap between them close.

The Jovian Giant shines brightly, low in the east-northeast.  Find a clear horizon in that direction.  It is reappearing in the morning sky after its conjunction on May 18.  It is still too low in the sky for clear telescopic observation, where air blurs the view of celestial bodies when they appear near the horizon.

Evening Sky

Mercury, Venus

Mercury and Venus are east of the sun, setting later than the central star.  Venus sets 22 minutes after sunset, followed by Mercury over 25 minutes later.

Mercury reaches its best visibility in about a month, but the view suffers from the solar system’s low angle near the western horizon at this season.

Venus’ delayed entry into the evening sky is inhibited by the same viewing challenge as Mercury.  The second planet from the sun first appears in about a month.

Midnight Moon

2024, June 22: Around midnight, the bright moon is in the south-southeast east of The Teapot of Sagittarius.
Chart Caption – 2024, June 22: Around midnight, the bright moon is in the south-southeast east of The Teapot of Sagittarius.

The moon, now past the Full phase, shines brightly, later during the night.  It rises about 80 minutes after sunset.  By three hours after sundown, near midnight, the lunar orb, 98% illuminated, is over 10° above the south-southeast horizon and east of The Teapot, Sagittarius’ brightest stars. With the bright moon light, use a binocular to see the pot’s shape.

By tomorrow morning’s twilight, the moon is nearly 15° above the south-southwest horizon.

RECENT PODCAST

LATEST ARTICLES