When the Curves Line Up

September 27, 2024: This morning the moon appears with the Beehive star cluster in the eastern sky before daybreak, a Moon-Beehive conjunction.  Four planets – Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars are visible during the night. See the accompanying article - 2024, September 27:  Morning Moon-Beehive Conjunction

September 24, 2024: Before sunrise, the nearly half-full moon is near bright Jupiter and Mars.  Venus and Saturn are visible after sundown. See the accompanying article - 2024, September 24: Moon with Jupiter and Mars

September 23, 2024: Before sunrise, the gibbous moon nears Jupiter.  Mars is to Jupiter’s lower left.  Venus and Saturn are in the evening sky. See the accompanying article - 2024, September 23: Moon Nears Jupiter

September 22, 2024: Today, the autumnal equinox occurs signaling the begin of autumn in the northern hemisphere.  Across North America, the moon occults or eclipses stars in the Pleiades star cluster. See the accompanying article - 2024, September 22: Autumnal Equinox, Moon Occults Pleiades

September 21, 2024:  Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are easily visible during nighttime hours.  The moon moves eastward toward the Pleiades star cluster. See the accompanying chart - 2024, September 21: Four Nightly Planets, Moon Moves Eastward

September 20, 2024: During the nighttime hours, the gibbous moon is near Hamal, Aries brightest star.  Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are visible during the nighttime. See the accompanying article - 2024, September 20: Moon with Aries

September 19, 2024:  Four bright planets – Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn – are on display during the night.  The gibbous moon rises later during the evening. See the accompanying article - 2024, September 19:  Four Bright Planets on Display

September 18, 2024:  As Autumn nears, daylight noticeably decreases from week to week.  At the same time darkness, part of nighttime increases. See the accompanying article - 2024, September 18:  Autumn’s Diminishing Daylight

September 17, 2024: The Harvest Moon shows a partial eclipse during the early hours in North America. Earlier the moon occults Saturn.  After sundown, Venus passes Spica. See the accompanying article - 2024, September 17: Harvest Moon Whatchamacallit Eclipse

September 14-18, 2024:  The Harvest Moon effect is observable during these five nights.  This is the 4th full moon during summer. See the accompanying article - 2024, September 14-18: The Harvest Moon Effect

September 16, 2024: Saturn and the Moon appear next to each other in the southeastern sky after sunset.  Watch the moon overtake the planet during the night. See the accompanying article - 2024, September 16: Saturn, Moon Evening Display

September 15, 2024: After sunset, the gibbous moon closes in on Saturn before their occultation in two mornings. See the accompanying article - 2024, September 15: Gibbous Moon Nears Saturn

September 14, 2024: As Mercury departs the morning sky, the nightly parade of five bright planets ends. The moon begins to approach the Saturn before their occultation on the 17th. See the accompanying article - 2024, September 14: Nightly Planet Parade Finale, Moon Targets Saturn

September 13, 2024: Mercury is exiting the nightly bright planet parade that includes Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. See the accompanying article - 2024, September 13: Nightly Bright Planet Parade Concluding

September 11, 2024: Don’t miss the nightly planet parade of five bright planets before Mercury departs in the a few mornings. See the accompanying article - 2024, September 11: Don’t Miss the Nightly Planet Parade

September 10, 2024: Look for Venus and Saturn after sundown.  They lead the bright planet parade westward. The exhibition includes Jupiter, Mars, and Mercury. See the accompanying article - 2024, September 10: Look for Venus, Saturn, Nightly Planet Parade

September 9, 2024:  A Mercury-Regulus conjunction occurs in the eastern sky before sunrise.  Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are visible during the nightly planet parade. See the accompanying article - 2024, September 9: Mercury-Regulus Conjunction, See Nightly Planet Parade

September 8, 2024:  Mars passes the star cluster Messier 35, at Castor’s foot.  During the nightly planet parade see five bright planets – Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. See the accompanying article - 2024, September 8: Mars Passes Star Cluster, See Nightly Planet Parade

September 7, 2024:  Saturn is at opposition tonight, appearing in the sky all night.  The parade of the five bright planets – Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn – continues during the night. See the accompanying article - 2024, September 7: Saturn at Opposition, Nightly Planet Parade Continues

September 5, 2024:  The crescent moon joins Venus and Spica after nightfall.  Venus leads the nightly planet parade that ends with Mercury’s appearance before sunrise. See the accompanying articles - 2024, September 5:  Crescent Moon Joins Venus, Spica

September 4, 2024: Mercury is farthest from the sun before sunrise, known as the greatest elongation. Look for it in the eastern sky during morning twilight. See the accompanying chart - 2024, September 4:  Mercury at Greatest Elongation

September 3-7, 2024:  After the New moon, the lunar crescent joins the nightly planet parade after sundown.  Each night through mid-month, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, and Mercury parade westward. See the accompanying article - 2024, September 3-7: Crescent Moon Joins Nightly Planet Parade

September 1, 2024: Mercury appears in the morning sky during early September.  It joins the nightly parade of five bright planets through mid-month. See the accompanying article - 2024, September 1: Mercury’s September Morning Appearance

August 31, 2024: The five bright planets are visible each night from sunset to sunrise.  This morning the crescent moon appears with the Beehive star cluster. See the accompanying article - August 31, 2024: Nightly Planet Parade

August 30, 2024:  The morning crescent moon passes Pollux in the eastern sky before sunrise – a wide morning Moon-Pollux Conjunction.  The five bright planets are visible during nighttime hours. See the accompanying article - August 30, 2024:  Morning Moon-Pollux Conjunction