2022, September 18: Morning Moon, Mars, Daylight Slips

September 18, 2022: The thick crescent moon and Mars are in the southeastern sky before sunrise.  Daylight slips quickly as the equinox approaches.

2022, August 25: Morning Venus, Crescent Moon, Evening Planets

August 25, 2022:  The thin crescent moon is near Venus this morning before daybreak.  Venus is joined by Mars and Jupiter in an arc across the morning sky. After sunset, Jupiter and Saturn are in the east.

2021, June 1 – June 7: Evening Star Venus and Mars

June 1 – June 7, 2021:  Evening Star Venus shines in the western sky after sunset.  Mars is over 20° to the upper left of Venus during this week.  Venus cuts the gap to Mars during the month.  Use a binocular to watch Venus pass a star cluster and Mars move eastward in the Pollux region.

2021, April 30: Evening Star, Venus, Mercury, Mars

April 30, 2021: Evening Star Venus and Mercury are low in the west-northwest after sunset.  Venus is beginning its evening appearance and Mercury is enroute to its best evening appearance of the year.  After night falls, Mars is in the west in Gemini.  Through a binocular, Mars is visible near the star cluster Messier 35.

2021, April 23: Evening Star Venus, Mercury, Mars, Moon

April 23, 2021: Evening Star Venus and Mercury are entering the evening sky.  They are found very low in the west-northwest after sunset.  The bright moon is in the southeastern sky during the early evening.  Mars is moving toward the star cluster Messier 35.

2021, April 22: Brilliant Venus, Gibbous Moon, Mars

April 22, 2021:  Brilliant Evening Star Venus is making its first appearance in the western sky after sunset.  Look just above the horizon at 20 minutes after sunset.  The bright, gibbous moon is in Leo.  Mars approaches the star cluster Messier 35 in a darker sky.