May 15, 2025: Tonight, see a rare celestial alignment that does not occur again until 2036.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 5:30 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 8:04 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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VENUS AS A MORNING STAR, 2025
Jupiter in Rare Alignment
Tonight, Jupiter passes between Zeta Tauri and Elnath, Taurus’ horns. The planet rambles eastward in front of the constellation. The Jovian Giant is 2.1° to Zeta Tauri’s upper right, the southern horn, and 5.8° to Elnath’s lower left. This is a rare alignment.
Because Jupiter revolves around the sun in nearly 12 years, the time interval for the planet to be seen again in this region, it is rarely in this alignment. In about 12 years, Jupiter passes opposition on December 12th, 2036. Before opposition, Jupiter passes between the horns on September 15th, 2036. Then it retrogrades, crossing between the stars on November 12th. After opposition, the planet returns to its eastward course, passing between Zeta Tauri and Elnath on April 27, 2037.
Tonight, find Jupiter about 10° above the west-northwest horizon at an hour after nightfall. Find Zeta Tauri to Jupiter’s lower left. At this altitude, height above the horizon, the star is not likely visible without the binocular’s optical assist.
After tonight, Jupiter appears above the imaginary line that connects the two stars.
Mars Marches Eastward
This evening, Mars is to Jupiter’s upper left and about halfway up in the west-southwest. It marches eastward in front of Cancer, over halfway from Gemini’s Pollux to Leo’s Regulus.
Mars and Beehive, Catch a Last Look
Use a binocular to see Mars and the Beehive star cluster comfortably in the same field of view. This is one of the last evenings to see them together until the Red Planet passes again on October 11, 2026, when it appears to pass through the cluster.
Venus, Saturn before Sunrise
Before sunrise, brilliant Venus is low in the eastern sky. It steps eastward and widens a gap to Saturn, nearly 11° to the Morning Star’s upper right.
Through a telescope, Venus’ morning crescent phase is 40% illuminated. During the next two weeks, the phase grows to 50% as the planet reaches its greatest separation from the sun, known as the greatest elongation on June 1st.
Saturn continues to emerge from morning twilight. It is dimmer than average because we see the planet’s rings nearly edge on. Considerable sunlight is reflected away from Earth.
The Ringed wonder rises over 30 minutes before the beginning of morning twilight and by an hour before sunrise, it is over 10° above the horizon. Initially look for it through a binocular, then find it without the optical assistance.
Moon and Cat’s Eyes
At this hour, the bright moon, 94% illuminated, is over 15° above the south-southwest horizon. In front of Ophiuchus, the lunar orb is nearly 15° to Antares upper left. From bright moonlight, look carefully, perhaps with a binocular, to see Shaula and Lesath, two stars – sometimes called the “Cat’s Eyes” – about 8° to the moon’s lower left, which mark the Scorpion’s tail and stinger.
After sundown tonight, look for Jupiter in a rare alignment with Taurus’ horns as well as Mars near the Beehive. Venus and Saturn are in the east before sunrise. Find the Cat’s Eyes near the moon.
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