When the Curves Line Up

January 5, 2022: Jupiter and the crescent are 5.5° in the evening sky.  Look for Mercury and Saturn with the planet-moon duo.  Earlier, Venus is low in the west-southwest.  Before sunrise, Mars is near Antares. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/12/06/2022-january-5-jupiter-evening-moon-morning-mars/

January 4, 2022:  Earth is at perihelion today – it’s closest point to the sun.  Mars is a morning planet, while the evening planet pack – Venus, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter – and the crescent moon are in the southwest after sundown. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/12/05/2022-january-4-earth-at-perihelion/

January 3, 2022:  The moon passes Venus for the final time of this evening appearance of Venus.  As night falls, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter are visible in the southwest.  Mars is in the southeast before sunrise. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/12/04/2022-january-3-venus-moon-conjunction/

December 30, 2021:  As the year ends and the new one opens, the night sky’s brightest star – Sirius – is in the southern sky at the midnight hour. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/12/03/2021-december-30-sirius-at-midnight/

December 31, 2021: This morning before sunup, the thin waning crescent moon appears near Mars and the star Antares.  Four planets – Venus, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter – are on parade in the southwest after sundown. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/12/02/2021-december-31-mars-moon-conjunction-four-evening-planets/

December 30, 2021:  The morning crescent moon seems to be captured in the Scorpion’s pincers to the upper right of Mars.  Four Evening Planets – Venus, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter – are in the southwest after sundown. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/12/01/2021-december-30-scorpion-morning-moon-four-evening-planets/

December 28, 2021:  The Great Andromeda Galaxy is nearly overhead at the end of the evening twilight. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/11/30/2021-december-28-andromeda-high-in-south/

December 29, 2021: The morning crescent moon approaches Scorpius and Mars.  In the evening sky, four evening planets – Venus, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter – are lined up in the southwest.  Venus is rapidly leaving the evening sky. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/11/29/2021-december-29-moon-nears-scorpion-venus-departs/

November 28, 2021:  During twilight this evening, the three bright evening planets – Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter are on parade in the southwestern sky. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/11/28/2021-november-28-evening-planets-on-parade/

December 28, 2021:  Brilliant Venus is quickly slipping from the evening sky.  Mercury appears beneath Venus after sunset.  This duo is joined by Jupiter and Saturn.  In the morning, Mars is near Antares and the moon near Spica. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/11/27/2021-december-28-venus-slips-mercury-hops/

Venus sets at Nautical Twilight on New Year’s Day 2022.  It is rapidly moving between the earth and sun, setting about 7 minutes earlier each evening.  In only five days it sets at Civil Twilight and then passes inferior conjunction at 6:48 p.m. CST on January 8, 2020.  The first morning visibility of Venus starts 3-4 days after the conjunction.  It’ll appear about 4° in altitu...

December 27, 2021:  The Red Planet Mars passes Antares this morning before sunrise.  At the same hour, the moon is near Spica.  The three bright planets – Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter – are in the evening sky. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/11/26/2021-december-27-mars-antares-conjunction/

November 25, 2021:  This is my postcard to my friends on Earth . This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/11/25/2021-november-25-hello-from-mars/

December 21, 2021: The winter solstice occurs at 9:59 a.m. CST. Mars is in the morning sky along with a bright moon. The planet pack, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn, is in the southwestern sky after sunset. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/11/24/2021-december-21-winter-solstice/

December 19, 20, and 21, 2021:  The bright moon leading up to the winter solstice appears in the western sky before sunrise in front of Gemini. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/11/23/2021-december-19-21-gemini-moon/

November 22, 2021:  NASA Says, “Scientists have added a whopping 301 newly confirmed exoplanets to the total exoplanet tally.” This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/11/22/2021-november-22-nearly-5000-exoplanets/

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. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/11/21/2021-december-18-venus-retrogrades/

December 16, 17, 18, 2021:  The bright moon appears in front of the stars of Taurus.  Find them low in the east after sunset and in the western sky before sunrise.  The moon is Full at 4:35 a.m. on December 19. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/11/20/2021-december-16-18-evening-moon-bull/

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. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/11/19/2021-december-16-venus-saturn-closest/

December 14, 2021:  Jupiter moves into Aquarius this evening.  The planet continues to slowly open the gap to Saturn.  Along with brilliant Venus, find them in the southwest after sunset.  Mars is climbing into the morning sky. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/11/18/2021-december-14-jupiter-in-aquarius/

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. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/11/16/2021-december-7-9-moon-evening-planets/

December 17, 2021:  NASA’s Eyes on Earth allows you to see any NSAS satellite as well as to study the science data they provide. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/11/17/2021-november-17-check-out-nasas-eyes-on-earth/

December 2-14, 2021:  December 2 marks the earliest sunset. This sunset time continues through December 14. Morning planet Mars, while Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter are in the southern sky after sunset. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/11/15/2021-december-2-earliest-sunset/

December 6, 2021:  Aldebaran rises at sunset.  As the brilliant planet Venus and the crescent moon group in the southwest, Winter’s stars begin to crawl across the eastern horizon. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/11/14/2021-december-6-aldebaran-rises-at-sundown/

December 4, 2021:  Before sunup the thin crescent moon guides us to dim Mars.  In the evening sky, Evening Star Venus, Saturn and Saturn shine from the southern sky. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/11/13/2021-december-4-moon-cues-mars/