October 23, 2021: This morning the bright moon is near the Pleiades star cluster. Mercury is making its best morning appearance. In the evening sky, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn are easy to spot.
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Watching the Sun, Moon and Planets
October 23, 2021: This morning the bright moon is near the Pleiades star cluster. Mercury is making its best morning appearance. In the evening sky, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn are easy to spot.
Read moreOctober 22. 2021: Speedy Mercury is low in the east before sunrise. It is putting on its best morning performance of the year. Arcturus, in the east-northeast, is about the same altitude as Mercury.
Read moreOctober 19, 2021: Four bright planets are visible during a twenty-four-hour interval. Mercury is in the morning sky, while Venus, Saturn and Jupiter are joined by a nearly full moon.
Read moreOctober 18, 2021: Jupiter’s illusion of retrograde motion ends today. Arcturus is appearing in the morning sky along with Mercury. The planet pack – Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter – and the moon are in the evening sky.
Read moreSeptember 22, 2021: The sun’s light is most direct at the equator at 2:21 p.m. CDT, signaling the beginning of the autumn season in the northern hemisphere.
Read moreJuly, 2021: During the early evening sky, Hercules is nearly overhead as evening twilight ends. The constellation has a spectacular star cluster.
Read moreEarly June Evenings, 2021: Arcturus, with the constellation Boötes, is high in the south as evening twilight ends. The constellation seems to follow or chase the Big Bear westward. Most people recognize the body and tail of the Bear as the Big Dipper.
Read moreApril 24, 2021: Brilliant Evening Star Venus and bright Mercury are entering the evening sky. They are low in the west-northwest during evening twilight. The bright moon is in the southeast in Virgo. Mars moves into Gemini as it approaches the star cluster Messier 35.
Read moreMarch 31, 2021: Arcturus rises at sunset and can be found low in the east-northeast an hour later. Mars marches eastward in front of the stars of Taurus. The bright gibbous moon rises low in the east-southeast near midnight.
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