When the Curves Line Up

July 3, 2023: The Buck Moon is in the southwest during morning twilight.  Find Jupiter and Saturn before sunrise, and Venus and Mars after nightfall. See the accompanying article 2023, July 3:  Morning Buck Moon, Four Bright Planets

July 2, 2023: The bright moon makes an all-nighter, somewhat resembling the sun’s path a mid-winter.  Venus and Mars shuffle in the western sky after sundown. See the accompanying article: 2023, July 2: A Buck Moon, Evening Planet Shuffle ⁠

July 1, 2023: Mercury begins an evening appearance with superior conjunction at the sun.  Brilliant Venus is in an interval of greatest brightness after sundown. Please read the accompanying article: 2023, July 1:  Mercury at Superior Conjunction, Brilliant Venus

June 30, 2023: Venus’ chase of Mars ends this evening with a quasi-conjunction.  The bright evening gibbous is near Antares. See the article and diagrams: 2023, June 30: Venus-Mars Quasi-Conjunction, Moon with Antares

June 29, 2023: Venus slows as it approaches Mars after sunset.  Farther eastward, the bright gibbous moon is with the Scorpion’s head.  Read the article: 2023, June 29: Venus Brakes, Scorpion Moon

June 28, 2023: Aldebaran returns to the morning sky with its heliacal rising. Venus nudges closer to Mars after sundown. See the article and charts: 2023, June 28: Aldebaran Returns, Venus Approaches Mars

June 27, 2023: Bright planets – Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn – and the moon parade across the sky during the nighttime hours.  The gibbous moon appears near Spica after sundown. See the article and charts: 2023, June 27: Planet Parade, Moon-Spica Conjunction

June 26, 2023: Evening Star Venus approaches its interval of greatest brightness.  It is that bright star in the west after sundown.  Mars is nearby, while Jupiter and Saturn are in the morning sky. See the accompanying article and charts: 2023, June 26: Spectacular Venus Steps into Leo

June 25, 2023: Bright Jupiter and Saturn are visible before sunrise, while Uranus and Neptune hide in bright morning twilight.  Brilliant Venus, Mars, and the early half-full moon are in the west after nightfall. See article with charts: 2023, June 25: Four Bright Planets on Parade

June 24, 2023: Jupiter and Saturn are visible in the eastern sky before sunrise.  Brilliant Venus and Mars are in the west after nightfall. See article with sky charts: 2023, June 24: Planetary Quartet

June 23, 2023: The latest sunset occurs today.  Evening Star Venus approaches its brightest after sundown.  It is a striking sight. Read the article and see the charts: 2023, June 23: Latest Sunset, Striking Venus

June 22, 2023: Jupiter and Saturn are the morning planets in the eastern sky before sunrise.  The moon is with Leo, above Venus and Mars, after sundown. See more with the article and charts: 2023, June 22: Morning Planets, Leo Moon

June 21, 2023:  The solstice occurs today, signaling the beginning of astronomical summer in the northern latitudes. From the Americas, not until 2028 will Venus, Mars, and the moon appear this close. Read the article for this podcast: 2023, June 21:  Summer Solstice, Rare Venus, Mars, Moon Grouping

June 20, 2023: Pollux, Moon, Venus, Mars, and Regulus make a line dance in the western sky after sundown. The crescent moon displays earthshine. Read the article: 2023, June 20: Evening Western Line Dance

June 19, 2023:  Morning planet Saturn retrogrades against Aquarius. The thin crescent moon is below the Gemini Twins during evening twilight. Read the article on the website: 2023, June 19: Saturn Retrogrades, Evening Moon

June 18, 2023: Today and tomorrow mark the days of longest daylight for the year.  Venus continues its eastward trek near Leo after sundown. Read the accompanying article: 2023, June 18: Longest Day, Venus Eastward Trek

June 17, 2023: The stars’ places before sunrise and after sundown are signals that the season is changing.  Jupiter and Saturn are visible before sunrise, while brilliant Venus and Mars are in the west after sundown. See the article and charts: 2023, June 17: Seasonal Signals, Bright Planets

June 16, 2023: Mercury and the crescent moon appear together before sunrise.  After sundown, Venus and Mars are in the western sky. See the charts for this podcast: 2023, June 16: Mercury Moon Conjunction, Evening Planet Duo

June 15, 2023: Three planets and the moon are in the sky before sunrise.  Venus sparkles in the western sky after sundown. See the accompanying article with charts: 2023, June 15: Morning Lineup, Brilliant Evening Star

June 14, 2023: The thin crescent moon joins Jupiter in a beautiful conjunction before sunrise.  Brilliant Venus continues to gleam in western evening sky. See the accompanying article: 2023, June 14: Lovely Jupiter-Moon Conjunction

June 13, 2023: The crescent moon is near Jupiter in the eastern sky before sunrise.  After sundown, Venus passes the Beehive star cluster. Use a binocular. Read the article at 2023, June 13: Morning Moon, Jupiter, Venus Passes Beehive

June 12, 2023: The morning moon appears to be playing hopscotch from Saturn to Jupiter. After nightfall brilliant Venus and Mars group with the Beehive star cluster. See the article and associate sky charts at: 2023, June 12: Lunar Hopscotch, Evening Planets Bunch with Beehive

June 11, 2023: The morning moon appears between Jupiter and Saturn.  After sundown, brilliant Venus approaches the Beehive star cluster. Read the accompanying article on the website - 2023, June 11: Morning Moon, Planets, Venus Nears Beehive

June 10, 2023: The Pleiades star cluster is making its first morning appearance. Venus continues to brighten in the western sky after sundown. See the article with graphics: 2023, June 10: Pleiades Return, Brilliant Evening Star

June 9, 2023: Saturn and the gibbous moon are in the eastern sky this morning.  Venus continues to chase Mars in the western evening sky. Read the accompanying article: 2023, June 9: Morning Saturn, Moon, Evening Star, Venus