2023, August 10: Look for Perseids, Morning Crescent Moon

August 10, 2023: With a waning moon look for Perseid meteors before the beginning of morning twilight.  The morning crescent moon is near Aldebaran, Taurus’ brightest star.

2023, February 19: Leo’s Morning, Venus Approaches Jupiter

February 29, 2023: Leo is in the western sky before sunrise, taking all night to go from east to west.  After sundown, Evening Star Venus continues to approach bright Jupiter.

2023, January 29: Mercury, Greatest Elongation, Evening Moon, Pleiades

January 29, 2023: Mercury is at its greatest angular separation from the sun during morning twilight.  After sundown, look for four planets and the gibbous moon near the Pleiades star cluster.

2023, January 24: Morning’s Mercury, Evening Planet Collection

January 24, 2023: Before sunrise, Mercury is visible in the southeastern sky.  After sundown, a collection of planets – Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn – appears with the moon.

2023, January 21: New Moon Signals Lunar New Year, Venus-Saturn Conjunction Eve

January 21, 2023: The lunar New Year starts at the New Moon.  One evening before their conjunction, Venus closes in on Saturn.  Two famous triangles are visible after sundown.

2023, January 19: Morning Mercury, Thin Moon, Venus Chases Saturn

January 19, 2023:  A razor-thin lunar crescent appears near Mercury before sunrise.  Venus continues to close in on Saturn leading up to their conjunction in three nights.

2023, January 18: Morning Mercury, Moon, Venus-Saturn Conjunction Nears

January 18, 2023: Mercury and the crescent moon appear in the eastern sky before sunrise.  After sundown, Venus continues to approach Saturn leading to a conjunction in four nights.

2023, January 12: Mars’ Retrograde Ends, Western Planets in Line

January 12, 2023: Mars resumes its eastward march in Taurus tonight. With Mars in the east, Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter are in a line in the western sky.