The elusive planet Mercury makes an appearance in the evening sky late in the month. After passing superior conjunction in mid-November, the speedy planet moved into the evening sky, although setting shortly after the sun. As Mercury approaches its greatest separation from the sun, it appears higher in twilight. By month's end it sets nearly 90 … Continue reading Mercury’s Evening Appearance, December 2015
Tag: sky watching
Saturn in Morning Sky, 2015
Saturn re-enters the morning sky at 2015 closes. It can be found low in the southeastern sky as the sky brightens. The chart above shows Saturn and brilliant Venus December 30. On this morning Saturn is 11 degrees to the left of Venus. Locate a clear horizon to see Saturn.
December’s Morning Planets 2015
The morning celestial ballet of the moon and planets continues during December. Looking east during early December, Bright planets Venus and Jupiter dominate the eastern morning sky, Early in the month, the moon appears among these planets. On the morning of December 4, The crescent moon appears near Jupiter (about 4 degrees to the lower left of Jupiter.) … Continue reading December’s Morning Planets 2015
December 2015, Sun and Moon
The Sun It's December. Time for least sunlight and greatest darkness. The amounts of daylight and darkness are flipped from what they were six months ago; this is a month with 9 hours of sunlight and 15 hours of darkness. The graph above (click it to see it larger) shows the meager sunlight during December … Continue reading December 2015, Sun and Moon
Change of Latitude
It's those changes in latitudes, Changes in attitudes nothing remains quite the same. With all of our running and all of our cunning, If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane. Jimmy Buffett A recent trip took this chronicler and his brother (known herein as Brother Trucker) to Key West, Florida. The visit … Continue reading Change of Latitude
Venus Passes Spica, November 30, 2015
Brilliant Morning Star Venus continues its eastward orbital motion compared to the starry background. On the morning of November 30, 2015, the brilliant planet passes about 4 degrees from Spica. Two other planets, Mars and Jupiter, appear above Venus. Mars is 14 degrees to the upper right of Venus and Jupiter is nearly 20 degrees beyond … Continue reading Venus Passes Spica, November 30, 2015
Venus, Mars & Jupiter. November 3, 2015
Brilliant Morning Star Venus passes Mars this morning as seen from the Chicago area. The planets are 3/4 degree (41 arc minutes) apart. Bright Jupiter is 7 degrees to the upper right of Venus. The planets continue their eastward movement against the starry background. On the morning of November 7, the moon appears 1.5 degrees to … Continue reading Venus, Mars & Jupiter. November 3, 2015
Venus Passes Mars, November 2, 2015
Brilliant Morning Star Venus is passing Mars in the eastern sky as seen from the Chicago area. This morning they are 3/4 degree (47') apart. Tomorrow they are closest. Bright Jupiter is 6.5 degrees to the upper right of Venus. For more information about the planets in the morning sky: A Sky Full of Planets in … Continue reading Venus Passes Mars, November 2, 2015
Venus, Mars & Jupiter, November 1, 2015
Brilliant Morning Star Venus shines near Mars this morning as seen from the Chicago area. This morning they are 1 degree apart. Watch Venus pass the Red Planet during the next two mornings. Bright Jupiter appears 7 degrees to the upper right of Jupiter. For more information about the planets in the morning sky: A Sky … Continue reading Venus, Mars & Jupiter, November 1, 2015
Recent Venus-Jupiter Conjunctions
October 25, 2015 -- Morning Sky June 30, 2015 -- Evening Sky August 18, 2014 -- Morning Sky May 27, 2013 -- Evening Sky July 4, 2012 -- Morning Sky (Not a true conjunction. Venus rapidly moves into morning sky but does not catch Jupiter before reversing is direction and moving eastward among the stars. … Continue reading Recent Venus-Jupiter Conjunctions