Tag: moon

2020, May 12: Moon Joins Bright Morning Planets

The moon joins the morning planets. by Jeffrey L. Hunt This morning the gibbous moon, 19.3 days past the New phase and 72% illuminated, is 3.1° to the lower right of Jupiter and 6.1° to the lower right of Saturn. Jupiter is inching eastward among the stars toward its Great Conjunction with Saturn on December … Continue reading 2020, May 12: Moon Joins Bright Morning Planets

2020, May 9: Morning Planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars

On a frosty, clear morning with a bright moon heading westward, the three bright morning planets – Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars – are in the eastern sky. Mars continues marching eastward and away from Jupiter and Saturn. Jupiter is inching eastward among the stars toward its Great Conjunction with Saturn on December 21, 2020. This … Continue reading 2020, May 9: Morning Planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars

2020, April 26: Venus and the Crescent Moon

This evening, brilliant Venus and the crescent moon – 4.0 days past its New phase and 14% illuminated – shine from the west. Add the star Elnath – the Northern Horn of Taurus – to the group for a nice triangle. The moon is 7.1° to the left Venus and 6.7° to the lower left … Continue reading 2020, April 26: Venus and the Crescent Moon

2020, May: Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars, Bright Morning Planets

Bright Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars shine in May’s morning sky. Click here for our semi-technical description of the planets during May 2020. A gallery of May's morning planets At the beginning of the month Jupiter (m = −2.4) rises at 1:25 a.m. CDT, followed by Saturn (m = 0.6) about 15 minutes later. Mars (m … Continue reading 2020, May: Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars, Bright Morning Planets

2020, May: Venus, Mercury and the Moon

Mercury enters the May 2020 evening sky as Venus exits. by Jeffrey L. Hunt Venus passes between our planet and the sun (inferior conjunction) early next month to emerge into the morning sky. As this occurs, Mercury enters the sky for its short evening appearance. The moon joins the pair on a few nights. Venus … Continue reading 2020, May: Venus, Mercury and the Moon

2020, April 18: Three Morning Planets and Moon

This morning bright Jupiter appears low in the south-southeast with Saturn and Mars trailing off toward the southeast. The three planets span 16.7° as Mars marches away from Jupiter and Saturn. The crescent moon that is 25.4 days old (past its New phase) and 18% illuminated appears low in the east-southeast. This article has more … Continue reading 2020, April 18: Three Morning Planets and Moon

2020, April 16: Moon Passes Mars and Morning Planets

This morning the three bright morning planets – Jupiter, Saturn and Mars – stretch across the southeastern morning sky. The moon is 3.8° to the lower left of Mars. In the image above, the moon is overexposed. It is 23.0 days past its New phase and 36% illuminated, a thick waning crescent. The morning planets, … Continue reading 2020, April 16: Moon Passes Mars and Morning Planets

2020, April 14: Moon Joins Morning Planets

This morning the slightly gibbous moon, 21.0 days past new and 55% illuminated is to the right of Jupiter. Jupiter is 5.5° to the upper right of Saturn. Mars, about 16° up in the southeast in central Capricornus, is 8.8° to the lower left of Saturn. Tomorrow morning the moon appears closer to the two … Continue reading 2020, April 14: Moon Joins Morning Planets

2020, March 23: Venus and Pleiades

Brilliant Venus shines brightly in the west this evening.  It is 10.4° to the lower right of Alcyone, the brightest star in the Pleiades.  Each evening Venus moves closer to the cluster.  Venus passes the Pleiades on April 3.  On March 28, the moon joins the scene. For more about Venus as an Evening Star, … Continue reading 2020, March 23: Venus and Pleiades