Venus, Jupiter & Mars, October 25, 2015

Brilliant Venus passes bright Jupiter in the eastern sky this morning as seen from the Chicago area.  The planets are less than one degree apart. The planets will pass again on August 27, 2016 in the evening sky when they appear about one degree apart.  Mars is about 3.5 degrees to the lower left of Venus. … Continue reading Venus, Jupiter & Mars, October 25, 2015

Venus, Jupiter & Mars, October 20, 2015

Brilliant Venus shines from the eastern sky this morning as seen from the Chicago area.  This brilliant Morning Star is joined by Jupiter, 4.5 degrees to its lower left, and Mars, 1.5 degrees to the lower left of Jupiter.  All the planets are moving eastward compared to the starry background.  While they rise in the … Continue reading Venus, Jupiter & Mars, October 20, 2015

Venus, Mars, Jupiter & Mercury, October 16, 2015

Brilliant Morning Star Venus shines from the eastern sky this morning as seen from the Chicago area.  Bright Jupiter and Mars are about 0.5 degree apart this morning with Jupiter 7 degrees to the lower left of Venus.  Just past its greatest angular separation from the sun elusive Mercury appears near the horizon, 28 degrees to the … Continue reading Venus, Mars, Jupiter & Mercury, October 16, 2015

Venus, Mars & Jupiter, October 15, 2015

Brilliant Morning Star Venus shines brightly from the eastern sky this morning as seen from the Chicago area.  Bright Jupiter and Mars are less than one degree apart.  Venus and Jupiter and moving closer together as they are 8 degrees apart today.  They pass close on October 25. For more information about the planets in the morning … Continue reading Venus, Mars & Jupiter, October 15, 2015

Venus, Mars & Jupiter, October 2, 2015

Morning Star Venus shines brightly from the eastern sky this morning as seen from the Chicago area.  Venus outshines all other objects this morning other than the waning gibbous moon that is high in the south.  Bright Jupiter appears low in the eastern sky, 16 degrees to the lower left of Venus.  Venus and Jupiter appear … Continue reading Venus, Mars & Jupiter, October 2, 2015

October 2015: Sun & Moon

Sun The hours of daylight continue to slip.  The daylight shrinks by 81 minutes in the Chicago area and the mid-northern latitudes during the month.  By month's end the sun is in the sky for 10 hours, 24 minutes.  During October, the sun is in the sky 25% less time than it was during June, … Continue reading October 2015: Sun & Moon

Venus, Jupiter & Mars This Morning, September 30, 2015

Brilliant Morning Star Venus shines in the eastern sky this morning as seen from the Chicago area.  Bright Jupiter appears lower in the sky, about 17 degrees from Venus.  Mars appears between the two bright planets, about 3 degrees to the lower left of the star Regulus.  During the next month, watch Mars pass Jupiter.  They … Continue reading Venus, Jupiter & Mars This Morning, September 30, 2015

Venus, Mars & Jupiter, September 26, 2015

Venus, Mars and Jupiter shine from the eastern sky as seen from the Chicago area this morning.  Mars passed the star Regulus yesterday as it moves eastward in its orbital path.  This morning they are 1 degree apart.  Venus is the bright morning star outshining all other starlike objects.  Jupiter appears low in the sky … Continue reading Venus, Mars & Jupiter, September 26, 2015

Venus, Mars, and Jupiter, September 21, 2015

Brilliant Venus shines from the eastern sky this morning as it has reached its greatest brilliancy for this morning appearance.  It outshines all other starlike objects in the sky.  Mars and Jupiter appear to the lower left of Venus.  This week watch Mars approach and pass Regulus. For more information about the planets in the morning sky: A Sky … Continue reading Venus, Mars, and Jupiter, September 21, 2015

Morning Planets, September 25, 2015

Venus is the bright "star" in the predawn sky.  Its brilliance can be seen in a clear sky well into morning twilight.  Bright Jupiter is now evident low in the east, although Venus is nearly 20 times brighter than Jupiter and the planets are 20 degrees apart.  On October 25, Jupiter and Venus appear close together, … Continue reading Morning Planets, September 25, 2015