March 31, 2026: Mercury’s visibility depends on twilight and the angle of the ecliptic. The April elongation is difficult to see, while August and November offer better viewing conditions.
Tag: ecliptic
2026, March 23: Why the Crescent Moon Appears Higher Each Night in Spring
March 23, 2026: The steep angle of the ecliptic during spring evenings lifts the crescent moon higher each night and raises Venus in the western sky.
2025, September 26: Three Bright Morning Planets Span Sky, Evening Moon
September 26, 2025: Find Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn before sunrise. The crescent moon is in the southwest after sunset with Scorpius.
2024, Jupiter, Mars in Taurus
2024: During July, August, and September, bright Jupiter and Mars move eastward in front of Taurus’ distant stars.
2024, June 29: Planets, Moon Parade before Sunrise
June 29, 2024: Jupiter, Mars, Saturn and the moon parade in the eastern sky before sunrise. Uranus and Neptune are present, but they are too dim for easy visibility.
2024, June 25: Summer Evenings – Look for Cygnus
June 25, 2024: Cygnus is high in the eastern sky as twilight ends. Jupiter, Mars, Saturn and the moon are visible during morning twilight.
2024, June 19: Moon Approaches Antares
June 19, 2024: Moon nears Antares after sunset. Jupiter is joining Mars and Saturn in the eastern sky before sunrise.
2023, September 17: Moon-Spica Conjunction, Morning Planet Lineup
September 17, 2023: The moon passes Spica after sunset. Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn are in a lineup during early morning hours.
2023, May 13: Morning Saturn-Moon Conjunction, Mars Nears Castor-Pollux Alignment
May 13, 2023: The moon appears with Saturn in the southeast before sunrise. Evening planet Mars marches toward an alignment with Castor and Pollux, the Gemini Twins.
2022, December 29: Evening Planets, Mercury Retrogrades
December 29, 2022: The evening planet display is ending as Mercury begins to retrograde and fade in brightness. Look for Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Moon, and Mars after sundown.