When the Curves Line Up

November 1, 2022: Before sunrise, bright Mars is high in the southwest above the Bull’s horns – Elnath and Zeta Tauri. During the evening, the slightly gibbous moon is near Saturn. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, November 1: Morning Mars, Evening Saturn, Moon

October 31, 2022: Halloween has no FULL moon this year.  The moon is nearly at the First Quarter phase.  Today, Darkness exceeds daylight. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 31:  NO Halloween Full Moon, Darkness Exceeds Daylight

October 30, 2022: Red Planet Mars begins to retrograde tonight.  The planet’s eastward direction halts and it begins to move westward compared to Taurus. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 30:  Mars Retrogrades

October 29, 2022: Arcturus appears higher in the east-northeast before sunrise. Spica arrives in the east-southeast soon.  The moon is with Sagittarius and its Teapot. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 29: Eastern Morning Stars Arrive, Evening Sagittarius Moon

October 28, 2022: Mars is the lone bright planet in the morning sky.  The star Antares – the heart of Scorpius – is near its last evening appearance of the year, known as its heliacal setting. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 28: Morning Mars, Antares Leaving

October 27, 2022: Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars are hung across the sky around midnight.  After sundown, the crescent moon is near Antares, the brightest star in Scorpius. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 27:  Overnight Planets, Evening Crescent

October 26, 2022:  Three bright planets – Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars are visible overnight.  Fomalhaut is in the southeast after sunset during autumn evenings. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 26: Three Bright Planets Overnight, Evening Fomalhaut

October 25, 2022:  A partial solar eclipse occurs today for sky watchers in the eastern hemisphere.  Red Planet Mars is the lone bright morning planet. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 25: Solar Eclipse, Lone Mars

October 24, 2022: Before sunrise, a challenging view of Mars and a thin crescent moon is possible.  The bright outer planets – Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn – are looping compared to the distant stars. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 24: Challenging Mercury, Moon, Looping Planets

October 23, 2022: Saturn’s retrograde or westward trek ends today in front of the stars of eastern Capricornus.  Mercury departs the sky after its best morning appearance of the year. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 23:  Saturn’s Retrograde Ends, Goodbye, Mercury!

October 22, 2022:  Venus is at superior conjunction today, hiding in the sun’s glaring light. An array of bright planets is visible during nighttime hours along with a morning crescent moon. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 22: Venus, Superior Conjunction, Bright Planet Platter

October 21, 2022:  The morning crescent moon is in the eastern sky before sunrise, seemingly in the belly of Leo.  Arcturus is visible in the eastern sky before sunrise and western sky after sunset. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 21: Crescent in Lion’s Belly, Arcturus, Morning and Evening

October 20, 2022: The moon covers or occults Eta Leonis in the eastern sky before sunrise.  In addition to Jupiter and Saturn, the Summer Triangle – Vega, Altair, and Deneb – stands overhead. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 20: Morning Lunar Occultation, Evening Bright Stars

October 19, 2022: The morning crescent moon is above Leo in the eastern sky during morning twilight.  Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars parade across the sky during the night. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 19: Morning Earthshine, Bright Planet Parade

October 18, 2022: The thick crescent moon appears near the Praesepe star cluster and the celestial donkeys before sunrise.  Overnight, Saturn leads Jupiter and Mars westward in the overnight planet parade. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 18: Celestial Donkeys, Planet Parade

October 17, 2022: Mars makes its first pass between the Bull’s horns this morning.  Spica is at conjunction with the sun.  It reappears in the morning sky next month. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 17:  Mars Splits Horns, Spica at Conjunction

October 16, 2022: The bright morning moon is in front of the Gemini Twins and near Mars.  After sundown Jupiter and Saturn gleam in the eastern evening sky. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 16: Gemini Moon, Antares Last Stand

October 15, 2022: Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is visible when the planet is high in the sky overnight.  Follow the moon and Bright Outer Planets – Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn – during the night. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 15: See Jupiter’s Red Spot, Bright Outer Planets

October 14, 2022:  A year from today an annular or ring eclipse is visible along a path from Oregon to South America.  Four bright planets are visible during the nighttime hours. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 14:  One Year Until Solar Eclipse

October 13, 2022: Topaz Arcturus nears its heliacal rising.  Find it by following the Big Dipper’s handle.  Mars appears near the Crab Nebula through a binocular. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 13: Arcturus near Heliacal Rising, Mars, Crab Nebula

October 12, 2022: Speedy Mercury continues to shine at its morning best before sunrise.  Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are visible with the moon during the overnight hours. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 12: Mercury at Morning’s Best, Bright Evening Planets

October 11, 2022: Mercury shines brightly in the eastern sky, marking its best morning appearance for the year.  The moon is with the planet Uranus in the same binocular field of view tonight. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 11: Mercury’s Morning Residency, Moon-Uranus Conjunction

October 10, 2022: Mercury continues to put on its best morning display of the year, while Mars marches eastward in Taurus.  The bright moon is visible all night and along a planetary arc with Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 10: Morning Mercury, Evening Moon, Planets

October 9, 2022: The month’s full moon is known as the Hunter’s Moon, appearing in the sky all night.  Four bright planets – Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn – are easily visible during the night. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 9: Hunter’s Moon, Bright Planets

October 8, 2022: Mercury is at greatest elongation today and visible before sunrise.  The nearly full moon is with Jupiter after sundown. This episode is also available as a blog post: 2022, October 8:  Mercury, Greatest Elongation, Moon with Jupiter