April 17, 2026: Two bright stars, Arcturus and Spica, anchor the eastern sky after sunset while Venus and Jupiter shine in the west. Use this guide to locate them and understand their motion.
Tag: Bootes
2025, May 26: Blaze Star, Where are You?
May 26, 2025: The Blaze Star, known as T Coronae Borealis, is expected to erupt. Where is it in the sky?
2024, May 30: Morning Moon Nears Saturn
May 30, 2024: Before sunrise the gibbous moon is near Saturn in the southeastern sky. Mars is in the east.
2024, May 7: Mars and Saturn are Morning Planets
May 7, 2024: Shining from the eastern sky before sunrise, Mars and Saturn are morning planets. Look for stars Arcturus and Spica after sundown.
2023, May 21: Morning Arcturus, Evening Celestial Display
May 21, 2023: Find Arcturus in the west before sunrise. After sunset, Venus, Mars, and the crescent moon are on exhibition.
2023, February 18: Morning’s Brightest Stars, Evening Planet Performance
February 18, 2023: The predawn sky has the brightest stars in the celestial northern hemisphere. After sundown, Venus approaches Jupiter and Mars marches eastward with Taurus.
2022, December 27: Crescent Moon, Rare Five-Planet Exhibition
December 27, 2022: The crescent moon appears with the five bright planets – Venus, Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars – after sundown.
2022, October 21: Crescent in Lion’s Belly, Arcturus, Morning and Evening
October 21, 2022: The morning crescent moon is in the eastern sky before sunrise, seemingly in the belly of Leo. Arcturus is visible in the eastern sky before sunrise and western sky after sunset.
2022, October 17: Mars Splits Horns, Spica at Conjunction
October 17, 2022: Mars makes its first pass between the Bull’s horns this morning. Spica is at conjunction with the sun. It reappears in the morning sky next month.
2022, March 31: Morning Planets, Evening Bear Guard
March 31, 2022: The gap from Venus to Saturn and Mars continues to widen. Mars nears its Saturn conjunction. Arcturus and Spica are in the eastern evening sky.