2022: The morning sky is full of planet activity. Morning Star Venus passes Mars, Saturn and Jupiter. Look eastward for the dance of planets before sunrise during the year.
Antares
2022, January 13: Mercury, Saturn Remain Close
January 13, 2022: Mercury and Saturn are still close to their near-conjunction point. The gap between them is a little wider this evening. Jupiter is the “bright star” in the southwest, to the upper left of Saturn after sundown. The evening moon is in front of Taurus. In the morning, Mars continues its slow climb into the morning sky, while Venus is zipping through pre-dawn twilight
2022, January 12: Mercury – Saturn Near Conjunction
January 12, 2022: Mercury moves to 3.4° to Saturn. This quasi-conjunction, or near conjunction, of the two planets is visible in southwest about 45 minutes after sunset. Jupiter is to Saturn’s upper left. The bright moon is near the Pleiades. Before sunrise, look for Mars low in the southeast. Venus is becoming visible during bright twilight.
2022, January 8: Venus at Inferior Conjunction
January 8, 2022: Venus passes between Earth and the sun – inferior conjunction – today. Mars continues its slow climb into the morning sky. Three bright planets – Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury – are in the southwest after sunset
2022, January 6: Mercury Nears Greatest Elongation
January 6, 2022: Planet Mercury nears its evening greatest elongation. It appears in the evening sky, with a crescent moon, Jupiter, and Saturn. Venus sets soon after sundown. Mars is in the southeast before sunup.
2022, January 5: Jupiter – Evening Moon, Morning Mars
January 5, 2022: Jupiter and the crescent are 5.5° in the evening sky. Look for Mercury and Saturn with the planet-moon duo. Earlier, Venus is low in the west-southwest. Before sunrise, Mars is near Antares.
2022, January 3: Venus – Moon Conjunction
January 3, 2022: The moon passes Venus for the final time of this evening appearance of Venus. As night falls, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter are visible in the southwest. Mars is in the southeast before sunrise.
2021, December 31: Mars – Moon Conjunction, Four Evening Planets
December 31, 2021: This morning before sunup, the thin waning crescent moon appears near Mars and the star Antares. Four planets – Venus, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter – are on parade in the southwest after sundown.
2021, December 30: Scorpion Morning Moon, Four Evening Planets
December 30, 2021: The morning crescent moon seems to be captured in the Scorpion’s pincers to the upper right of Mars. Four Evening Planets – Venus, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter – are in the southwest after sundown.
2021, December 29: Moon Nears Scorpion, Venus Departs
December 29, 2021: The morning crescent moon approaches Scorpius and Mars. In the evening sky, four evening planets – Venus, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter – are lined up in the southwest. Venus is rapidly leaving the evening sky.