May 14, 2025: After sundown, bright Jupiter is slowly splitting Taurus’ horns. Farther eastward, check out Mars and the Beehive star cluster in the same binocular field until 2026.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 5:31 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 8:03 p.m. CDT. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program.
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Four bright planets are visible during the nighttime. After sundown, Jupiter is nearly between the Bull’s horns, while Mars separates from the Beehive star cluster.
Jupiter, Taurus’ Horns
Jupiter is nearly between Taurus’ horns, Elnath and Zeta Tauri, in the west-northwest after sunset. An hour after sundown, use a binocular to see the Jovian Giant, 1.6° to Zeta’s upper right. It is 5.8° to Elnath’s lower left, the northern horn and brighter star. Tomorrow evening, Jupiter is between the horns, though the stars are too far apart to fit into the same binocular field of view.
Mars
Mars is farther eastward and to Jupiter’s upper left. The Red Planet is over halfway from Gemini’s Pollux to Leo’s Regulus. Find it over halfway up in the west-southwest.
Mars and the Beehive
Through a binocular, Mars is east of the Beehive star cluster, a stellar bundle that appears larger than the full moon when viewed from rural settings. The planet is 4.7° to the cluster’s upper left. Make this observation at least 90 minutes after sunset when the sky is darker and before moonrise an hour later.
This is one of the final evenings to see Mars and the star cluster nicely placed in the same binocular field of view until September 30th, 2026.
Bright Moon before Sunrise
This morning before sunrise, the bright moon, 97% illuminated, is low in the south-southwest. Still considered the Flower Moon, the lunar orb is 2.4° to Antares’ lower right, the Scorpion’s brightest star. In this moonlight, use a binocular to trace the arachnid’s shape.
Venus and Saturn in Eastern Sky
Brilliant Venus shines from the eastern sky during morning twilight. One hour before daybreak, the Morning Star is less than 10° above the horizon. It steps away from Saturn, 10.3° to the planet’s upper right.
Use a binocular to initially look for Saturn. Attempting to find the Ringed Wonder later during morning’s light requires a binocular.
After nightfall, look for Jupiter as it is nearly between Taurus’ horns as well as one of the last looks at Mars and the Beehive star cluster in the same binocular field.
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