December 18, 2021: Venus begins to retrograde this evening. It appears in the southwest after sunset, along with bright Jupiter and Saturn. The moon is caught between the Bull’s horns this evening. In the morning sky, Mars passes the star Graffias.
Zubenelgenubi
2021, December 16: Venus – Saturn Closest
December 16, 2021: Venus and Saturn are closest this evening. Jupiter is to the upper left of Saturn. The bright moon is in the eastern sky. In the morning sky, Mars moves through Scorpius.
2021, December 7-9: Moon, Evening Planets
December 7-9, 2021: The crescent appears with Jupiter and Saturn in the southern sky after sundown. Meanwhile, Mars continues its slow climb into the morning sky.
2021, October – December: Mars Conjunction, Return to Morning Sky
Mars is at its solar conjunction on October 7, 2021. It begins a slow return into the morning sky. By year’s end it appears low in the southeastern sky with the moon.
2021, September 28: Morning Moon, Evening Planets
September 28, 2021: This morning the moon, as it approaches its Last Quarter phase, is high in the south at the Gemini – Taurus border. The evening planet pack – Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn – brightly shine after sunset.
2021, September 25: Morning Moon, Evening Planet Pack
September 25, 2021: The bright morning moon approaches the Pleiades star cluster and Aldebaran. In the evening sky, brilliant Evening Star Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn are easy to spot.
2021, September 23: Venus Passes a Claw
September 23, 2021: Three bright planets shine in the sky during the early evening. Brilliant Venus is in the southwestern sky after sunset. This evening it passes Zubenelgenubi – “the southern claw.” Bright Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeastern sky during the early evening.
2021, August 14: Waxing Moon, Stellar Double
August 14, 2021: This evening the waxing moon is near Zubenelgenubi, the southern claw, that is a stellar double. Use a binocular to see both stars that are in a gravitation dance.
2021, July 18: Planetary Platter
July 18, 2021: All five bright planets – Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn – are visible during the nighttime hours. Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury in the sky before sunrise. Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are in the sky after sundown.
2021, July 17: Line Dance in Evening Western Sky
July 17, 2021: Evening Star Venus and Mars continue their seemingly choregraphed line dance in the western sky after sunset. Venus is east of Mars and moving toward the star Regulus.