Venus This Evening, December 23, 2013

Brilliant Venus shines from the southwest this evening as seen from the Chicago area. (Click the image to see it larger.)  The planet is rapidly moving between the sun and our planet, passing in between on January 11, 2014.  Venus now sets about 90 minutes after the sun. After inferior conjunction, it rapidly moves into … Continue reading Venus This Evening, December 23, 2013

Venus this Evening, December 17, 2013

Brilliant Venus gleams in the southwestern sky this evening as seen from the Chicago area. (Click the image to see it larger.)  Just 25 days before inferior conjunction, Venus is now setting about 2 hours after the sun.  This rapidly decreases from now until January 11, 2014. Read more about the planets this month. Read more … Continue reading Venus this Evening, December 17, 2013

Venus and the Moon This Evening, December 6, 2013

Brilliant Venus sparkles during twilight this evening in the west-southwest with the crescent moon nearby as seen from the Chicago area. (Click the image to see it larger.)  Today Venus reaches its greatest brightness during this evening appearance. Read more about the planets this month. Read more about Venus as an Evening Star.

Venus as a Morning Star, 2014

This appearance of Venus concluded October 15, 2014, when it passed superior conjunction and moved into the evening sky. Venus makes an appearance in the morning sky, displaying its gleaming "Morning Star" brilliancy throughout most of 2014.  Venus enters the eastern morning sky in late January 2014 after passing between Earth and Sun (inferior conjunction). … Continue reading Venus as a Morning Star, 2014

December 2013 Skywatching

The Sun The sun reaches the winter solstice at 11:11 a.m. CST on December 21.  At this time it makes its lowest arc across the sky as it reaches its southern most rising and setting points.  It is in the sky 9 hours, 9 minutes in the Chicago area reaching an altitude of 25 degrees … Continue reading December 2013 Skywatching

Venus This Evening, November 23, 2013

Brilliant Venus sparkles in the south-southwestern sky after sunset this evening. (Click the image to see it larger.)  Venus continues to grow in brightness through early December.  It is now setting about 2 hours, 30 minutes after the sun.  After its latest setting time in early December, Venus rapidly closes in on the sun as … Continue reading Venus This Evening, November 23, 2013

Venus This Evening, November 19, 2013

Brilliant Venus shines in the south-southwest this evening during twilight. (Click the image to see it larger.)  It is about three weeks past its largest apparent separation from the sun during this evening appearance. It continues to grow in brightness for the next few weeks.  The only two celestial sights that are regularly brighter than … Continue reading Venus This Evening, November 19, 2013

November 2013 Sky Watching

This Month Most of the United States sets their clocks back one hour to standard time this month.  The length of daylight decreases by about one hour during the month, ending with about 9 hours, 20 minutes of daylight in the Chicago area at month's end.  The noon sun appears 7 degrees lower during the … Continue reading November 2013 Sky Watching