November 12, 2024: Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, and the moon parade westward during the nighttime hours. All are visible before midnight.
PODCAST FOR THIS ARTICLE
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 6:37 a.m. CST; Sunset, 4:32 p.m. CST. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program.
Morning Sky
Jupiter
Before sunrise, the end of the nightly planet parade is easily visible. Jupiter, the brightest starlike body in the sky this morning, is less than halfway up in the west between the Bull’s horns, Elnath and Zeta Tauri. It retrogrades generally toward Aldebaran, 10.4° below the Jovian Giant.
The illusion of retrograde occurs when Earth overtakes and passes between a more-distant planet and the sun.
Mars
Mars marches eastward in front of Cancer, high in the south-southwest, over 10° to Pollux’s lower left, one of the Gemini Twins. It resembles Aldebaran’s color, but the planet is distinctly brighter, only Jupiter and Sirius outshine it.
Mars is approaching the Beehive star cluster and both are in the same binocular field of view. The cluster appears three times larger than the Full moon, but at a distance of nearly 600 light years, it shows as a fuzzy cloud without optical aid when viewed from a location away from outdoor lighting.
Evening Sky
Nightly Bright Planet Parade
The nightly planet parade begins each evening after sunset.
Mercury
Mercury’s appearance is beginning, although it is not a favorable view. The planet is bright, but is less than 4° above the southwest horizon and nearly 18° to Venus’ lower right. A natural horizon and a binocular are needed to see it.
The speedy planet reaches greatest elongation – its farthest eastern swing from the sun – in four nights when it is over 4° above the horizon at this time interval. Theoretically, all five bright planets are visible in a span of four hours after sunset.
Venus
As the sky darkens further, Venus gleams brightly from the southwest, over 10° above the horizon. It is easily mistaken for an airplane or some unworldly visitor. The Evening Star steps eastward in front of Sagittarius. Use a binocular to see it approach Kaus Borealis, meaning the northern part of the Archer’s bow. This evening Venus is 5.2° to the star’s lower right.
Through a telescope, Venus shows an evening gibbous phase that is 74% illuminated, an evening gibbous phase.
Saturn and Moon
Saturn is farther eastward, over 30° above the south-southeast horizon. The planet’s retrograde is nearing its conclusion for this year in front of Aquarius. The Ringed Wonder is nearly 30° from the moon.
The lunar orb, 88% illuminated, is in the east-southeast. The moonlight overwhelms dimmer stars and gently illuminates the ground, casting shadows.
Jupiter’s Evening Appearance
Venus sets over two hours after sunset and 44 minutes after Jupiter rises in the east-northeast. Look for them simultaneously at 105 minutes after sundown, Jupiter in the east-northeast and Venus in the southwest.
By three hours after sundown, Jupiter is nearly 15° above the east-northeast horizon. Find the horns and Aldebaran. At this time interval, Saturn is in the southern sky.
Mars Follows Jupiter
Mars, tonight’s fourth bright planet, rises over three hours after Jupiter. By six hours after nightfall, the Red Planet is over 10° above the east-northeast horizon, below Pollux.
Three bright planets and the moon are along an arc from the east-northeast to the southwest. Saturn is about 20° above the southwest horizon; Jupiter is about halfway up in the east-southeast; and Mars is in the east-northeast. The gibbous moon is high in the southwest.
By tomorrow morning Jupiter and Mars are nearly in the same place as this morning.
RECENT PODCASTS
LATEST ARTICLES
- 2026, September 19-23: Moon Waxes Toward Harvest Moon
September 19-23, 2026: The Waxing Gibbous Moon appears farther eastward in front of Sagittarius and Capricornus as the Harvest Moon approaches. - 2026, September 19: Venus at Greatest Illuminated Extent: Evening Crescent Grows Larger
September 19, 2026: Venus reaches its greatest illuminated extent tonight, appearing larger through a telescope while showing an evening crescent phase. Learn why the Evening Star shines so brilliantly before sunset. - 2026, September 18: First Quarter Moon Near Sagittarius, Venus in Evening Twilight, Jupiter and Mars Before Sunrise
September 18, 2026: The First Quarter Moon shines near Sagittarius after sunset while brilliant Venus descends into evening twilight. Saturn nears opposition, and Jupiter and … Continue reading 2026, September 18: First Quarter Moon Near Sagittarius, Venus in Evening Twilight, Jupiter and Mars Before Sunrise - 2026, September 17: Mars Passes Pollux Before Sunrise: Watch the Red Planet Align With Twins
September 17, 2026: Before sunrise, Mars passes Pollux in a wide conjunction while Jupiter shines from Cancer. Follow the Red Planet’s eastward march against Gemini as it closes the gap with Jupiter. - 2026, September 16: Venus After Sunset, Moon Near Antares, Saturn Near Opposition, Jupiter and Mars Before Sunrise
September 16, 2026: Brilliant Venus shines low in evening twilight while the crescent moon appears near Antares. Saturn nears opposition, and Jupiter and Mars are in the eastern predawn sky.