October 18, 2024: A Mars-Pollux conjunction occurs before sunrise. Watch the Red Planet move eastward compared to the Twins. Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter are visible nightly as well.
PODCAST FOR THIS ARTICLE
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 7:07 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 6:04 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 the planet forecast:
Morning Sky
An hour before sunrise, the bright moon, 99% illuminated, is 25° up in the west. The moonlight overwhelms the morning sky’s dimmer stars.
Jupiter and Taurus
Bright Jupiter is high in the southwest. It retrogrades in front of Taurus, 12.0° to Aldebaran’s upper left, 6.3° to Elnath’s lower left, the Bull’s northern horn, and 4.2° to Zeta Tauri’s lower right – the southern point. Do not confuse Aldebaran with Betelgeuse, Orion’s shoulder, over 20° to the left.
Mars with Gemini
Mars, high in the south-southeast, is considerably dimmer than Jupiter. It resembles Betelgeuse and Aldebaran in color and brightness.
Mars-Pollux Conjunction
The Red Planet is marching eastward in front of Gemini. This morning it passes 5.7° to Pollux’s lower right, one of the Twins. This is the first of a series of three conjunctions, known as a triple conjunction.
A Mars-Pollux Triple Conjunction
On December 6th, Mars begins the illusion of retrograde, as opposition approaches. Earth passes between the planet and the sun on January 15, 2025. Mars passes Pollux for the second conjunction a week later.
The third conjunction occurs on March 31st, after the planet begins to move eastward again on February 23rd.
The accompanying chart shows the motion of Mars against the starfield, based on the plane of the ecliptic. West is to the right and east to the left. Conjunction dates for bright stars are included and color coded as well as triangles showing the first day of each month.
During the next several weeks watch Mars move east of the Twins and then begin the illusion of retrograde.
Evening Sky
Mercury continues a slow climb into the evening sky. It sets 26 minutes after the sun.
Venus and Scorpius
About 20 minutes later, Venus is very easy to see in the southwest. The Evening Star is less than 10° above the horizon. It is very bright and easily visible from a spot with a clear view in that direction.
Use a binocular to see Venus 1.7° to the upper right of the star Dschubba, the Scorpion’s crown. Venus steps eastward in front of Scorpius. It passes Antares, the heart, on the 25th.
A Comet
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is in the western sky. It is nearly 25° to Venus’ upper right. Use a binocular to see it. The cometary mass is starlike, surrounded by a dim cloud – known as the coma. The tail points upward, away from the sunset point. How far can you trace the tail through the binocular.
Saturn and Fomalhaut
At this level of twilight, Saturn is visible, less than 25° up in the southeast. The planet is not as bright as Venus, although it is the brightest star in the region. The Ringed Wonder is dimmer than average because the planet’s rings are almost seen edge on. The icy particles reflect considerable sunlight that contribute to the planet’s brightness in our sky.
The star Fomalhaut is nearly 7° above the southeast, over 20° to the lower right of Saturn.
Two hours after sundown, the bright gibbous moon, 96% illuminated, is nearly 15° up in the east-northeast. It is 11.6° to the upper right of the Pleiades star cluster.
Tomorrow morning, the moon is less than halfway up in the western sky. Note the places of Jupiter and Mars in their starfields.