September 9, 2025: Three bright planets are visible during morning twilight, when the moonlight washes out Uranus and Neptune. This is the last morning to see Venus and Sirius at nearly the same altitude.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 6:25 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 7:10 p.m. CDT. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times.
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Three Morning Planets Parade
Three bright planets are easy to spot through bright moonlight this morning. Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn are along an imaginary arc that nearly spans the sky from the eastern sky to the west-southwest.
This morning the bright moon is near Saturn. Its light washes across the sky, muting Uranus, Neptune and the dimmer stars.
Before Sunrise
- The gibbous moon, 96% illuminated, is 30° above the west-southwest horizon. It is over 10° above Saturn.
- Farther eastward, bright Jupiter is about halfway up in the eastern sky. It moves slowly eastward in front of Gemini, 7.9° to the right of Pollux, one of the Twins.
- Brilliant Venus, nearly 30° to Jupiter’s lower left, is less than 20° above the horizon. It approaches Regulus, Leo’s brightest star, over 10° to the lower left. At an unobstructed horizon, initially find the star through a binocular, 7° above the horizon. Tomorrow Venus steps in front of Leo.
See Venus and Sirius in Eastern Sky
- This is the last morning to see Venus and Sirius at nearly the same altitude. Venus is moving eastward against the starfield, while that starfield appears higher in the sky each morning. After today, Sirius appears noticeably higher in the eastern sky than Venus. It is a pretty sight to see the brightest planet and the brightest star in the eastern sky, though they are separated by a wide gap.
- Mercury is not visible as it retreats into bright morning twilight. This speedy planet passes superior conjunction on the far side of the sun on the 13th.
After sunset
- Mars is immersed in bright twilight and is not easily visible.
- Two hours after sundown, the bright moon is over 10° up in the east. Since this morning the moon’s phase has shrunk to 92%. Its brightness washes across the sky and casts shadows of terrestrial features.
- At this hour, Saturn is over 15° above the east-southeast horizon, over 20° to the lunar orb’s upper right.
During the night, Saturn, Moon, and stars appear farther westward. The moon revolves eastward and opens a wider gap to Saturn. Notice the difference from tonight’s separation to tomorrow morning.
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