2024, June 26: Morning Moon Targets Saturn

June 26, 2024: Before sunrise, the gibbous moon targets Saturn.  Jupiter and Mars are in the eastern sky. Capella, Castor, and Pollux are leaving the evening sky.

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.

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by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 5:18 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.

Here is today’s planet forecast:

Morning Sky

Morning Moon Targets Saturn

Morning Moon Targets Saturn
Chart Caption – 2024, June 26: Jupiter and Mars shine from the eastern sky before sunrise.

Before sunrise, the gibbous moon, 78% illuminated, is in the southern sky, one day before it groups with Saturn.  The morning half phase, known as Last Quarter, occurs on the 28th at 4:53 p.m. Central Time when the lunar orb is below the horizon in the Americas.

Saturn is nearly 18° to the moon’s upper left.  It is slowly moving eastward in front of Aquarius.  At month’s end it seems to stop moving eastward and it begins the illusion of retrograde.

Jupiter and Mars

2024, June 26: Jupiter and Mars shine from the eastern sky before sunrise.
Chart Caption – 2024, June 26: Jupiter and Mars shine from the eastern sky before sunrise.

At this hour, two other bright planets, Jupiter and Mars are in the eastern sky.

Bright Jupiter is nearly 10° above the east-northeast horizon.  It continues to rise earlier each morning and appear higher in the sky.  The planet is in front of Taurus.  The constellation’s stars are hiding in the veils of morning twilight and moonlight.

Mars, marching eastward in front of Aries, is over 24° to Jupiter’s upper right, and nearly 12° below Hamal, the Ram’s brightest star.  The Red Planet closes the gap to Jupiter each morning.  It passes the Jovian Giant on August 14th.  It passed Saturn on April 10th and open a widening gap to the Ringed Wonder.  This morning, Mars is about 55° from Saturn.

The three planets and gibbous moon seem to hang on an arc that extends from the east-northeast to the southwest.  This is the plane of the solar system, known as the ecliptic, where the moon and planets revolve.  In the evening sky, Regulus, Spica, and Antares are milestones along that celestial trackway.

Evening Sky

Mercury and Venus, Evening Planets

Mercury and Venus are east of the sun and technically evening planets, although they are not easily visible.  Venus is moving toward a stint as the Evening Star beginning in about a month.  This evening it sets nearly 30 minutes after the sun, followed by Mercury over 30 minutes after Venus sets.

Three Bright Stars Leaving Evening Sky

2024, June 26: Capella, Pollux, and Castor are making their final appearances in the western evening sky for this season.
Chart Caption – 2024, June 26: Capella, Pollux, and Castor are making their final appearances in the western evening sky for this season.

Three bright stars that are in the southern sky during winter are making their last stands in the evening sky.  Bright Capella is about 5° up in the north-northwest.  This star is already appearing in the northeast before sunrise, to Jupiter’s upper left.

Castor and Pollux, the Gemini Twins are in the northwest.  Pollux is near the ecliptic, reaching solar conjunction on July 14th.  The pair reappears in the eastern sky later during the summer.

Find a clear horizon looking toward the northwest to see these stars.

The moon rises after midnight, appearing near Saturn tomorrow morning during twilight.

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