October, 2024: Brilliant Venus climbs higher in the western evening sky. It passes in front of the stars of the classic Scorpion.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Venus Slowly Climbs into the Western Evening Sky
Venus begins to rise higher in the western evening sky during the month. The planet gains 30 minutes of setting time. Around mid-October, it sets at the end of evening twilight. The planet and background stars are low in the sky during mid-twilight. A binocular is needed to see the scene near the planet.
During October and early November, Venus passes the classic Scorpion. It moved in front of Libra on September 29th. It moves through the Scales, passing Zubenelgenubi (α Lib on the constellation chart above), the southern claw, on the 5th. The crescent moon, Venus, and the star fit into the same field of view.
Venus with Scorpius
On October 17th, Venus steps in front of Scorpius’ western boundary. It crosses the constellation in seven days, moving into Ophiuchus on the 24th. While the constellation is large, the small patchwork that covers the ecliptic is small.
On the 19th, it passes Dschubba (δ Sco). Use a binocular to take in the conjunction as well as Graffias (β Sco), and Pi Scorpii (π Sco).
Venus-Antares Conjunction
While in front of Ophiuchus on the 25th, Venus passes 3.1° above Antares. Use a binocular to spot Al Niyat (σ Sco) and Tau Scorpii (τ Sco), sometimes known as the arteries for Antares, the Scorpion’s heart in celestial artwork. Initially find Venus less than 10° up in the southwest at 45 minutes after nightfall.
With Libra and Scorpius disappearing into evening twilight, Venus continues to step eastward, reaching Ophiuchus’ eastern boundary on November 7th.
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