October 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.
Mercury
2021, October 21, Bright Morning Moon, Mercury, Evening Planet Pack
October 21, 2021: The bright moon is low in the west about an hour before sunrise. Mercury is in the east at about the same altitude as Arcturus. Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter shine from the evening sky.
2021, October 20: Mercury, Morning Planet
October 20, 2021: Mercury is brightening in the morning sky. Brilliant Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn are in the evening sky. The bright moon starts the evening low in the eastern sky.
2021, October 19: Four Bright Planets
October 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.
2021, October 18: Jupiter’s Retrograde Ends
October 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.
2021, October 17: Arcturus, Mercury, Morning, Evening Planet Pack
October 17, 2021: Arcturus is making its first morning appearance in the eastern sky before sunrise, while Mercury is beginning its best morning appearance of the year. The gibbous moon, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus are strung across the sky after sundown.
2021, October – December: Mars Conjunction, Return to Morning Sky
Mars is at its solar conjunction on October 7, 2021. It begins a slow return into the morning sky. By year’s end it appears low in the southeastern sky with the moon.
2021, September 13: Mercury at Greatest Elongation
September 13, 2021: Mercury reaches greatest elongation tonight. It is a challenge to see in the bright twilight.
2021, September 7, 8: Mercury, Lunar Crescent
September 7 & 8, 2021: The crescent moon, emerging from bright sunlight after its New moon phase, appears near Mercury on these evenings. On September 8, use a binocular to find the crescent 5.0° to the upper right of the speedy planet.
2021, September 6: Evening Planets
September 6, 2021: Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn shine in the evening sky. The moon is at its New moon phase at 7:52 p.m. CDT.