When the Curves Line Up

October 29, 2021:  Today is the date for equal daylight and equal darkness for about 42° north latitude. This is not to be confused with the autumnal equinox. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/09/23/2021-october-29-equal-daylight-equal-darkness/

October 4, 2021: Before sunrise, the razor-thin lunar crescent is low in the eastern sky. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/09/22/2021-october-4-thin-morning-moon/

October 3. 2021:  Before sunrise, the thin crescent moon is in the eastern sky, to the lower left of Regulus.  After sunset, the planet pack – Evening Star Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn – shine brightly. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/09/21/2021-october-3-lunar-slice-evening-planet-pack/

October 2, 2021: The crescent moon appears near the head of Leo in the eastern sky this morning before sunrise. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/09/20/2021-october-1-moon-lions-head/

October 9, 2021: Look for brilliant Venus, crescent moon, and the head of Scorpius in the southwest after sunset.  About every eight years, Venus and the moon appear near the head of the Scorpion after sunset.  Look for them about 45 minutes after sunset. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/09/19/2021-october-9-rare-grouping-venus-crescent-...

October 1, 2021: Before sunrise, the lunar crescent is near the Beehive star cluster. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/09/18/2021-october-1-lunar-crescent-beehive/

September 29, 2021:  The thick crescent moon is in the southeast before sunrise, approaching the middle of Gemini.  The evening planet pack is visible after sunset. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/09/16/2021-september-29-gemini-moon-evening-planet-pack/

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. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/09/15/2021-september-28-morning-moon-evening-planets/

September 27, 2021:  Before sunrise this morning, the bright moon seems caught between the horns of Taurus, Elnath and Zeta Tauri.  The planet pack, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn, are visible after sundown. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/09/14/2021-september-27-moon-between-the-horns-evening-planet-pack/

September 26, 2021: This morning a bright moon is between the Pleaides and Hyades star clusters. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/09/13/2021-september-26-morning-moon-taurus/

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. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/09/12/2021-september-25-morning-moon-evening-planet-pack/

September 24, 2021:  The Summer Triangle – Vega, Altair, and Deneb – is high in the south during the early evening hours. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/09/11/2021-september-24-summer-triangle-up-high/

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. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/09/10/2021-...

September 22, 2021:  The sun’s light is most direct at the equator at 2:21 p.m. CDT, signaling the beginning of the autumn season in the northern hemisphere. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/09/09/2021-september-22-autumnal-equinox/

September 20, 2021:  The Harvest Moon occurs at 6:55 p.m. CDT, the full moon that occurs closest to the autumnal equinox.  In addition to the full moon, three bright planets are in the evening sky – Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/09/08/2021-september-20-harvest-moon-bright-planets/

September 19, 2021:  Three bright planets – Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn – are easily visible after sunset, along with the nearly-full moon. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/09/07/2021-september-19-three-evening-planets-bright-moon/

September 18, 2021:  Venus moves into the boundaries of the classic Scorpion.  Today the pattern is divided into Libra and Scorpius.  Each evening watch the position of Venus change compared to the sidereal background. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/09/06/2021-september-18-venus-and-scorpion/

Venus moves through the classic Scorpion (Libra, Scorpius, and Ophiuchus) during the next 46 days.  The planet is south of the ecliptic, appearing in regions of the constellations that we might not expect to see it. Venus closes in on Earth. The observing interval occurs at nearly mid-twilight so that dimmer stars are easier to see than earlier in the apparition.  Venus sets later each e...

September 16, 2021:  The famous Double Cluster is high in the northwest before the beginning of morning twilight.  The cluster pair is easily observed without a binocular’s optical assist in dark locations.  A binocular is needed in town.  The Great Galaxy in Andromeda is nearby. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/09/05/2021-sept...

September 15-22, 2021:  The moon passes evening planets Saturn and Jupiter as a lead in to the Harvest Moon and the geometrical effects of the sky, known as the Harvest Moon Effect. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/09/04/2021-september-15-22-evening-planets-harvest-moon-effect/

September 13, 2021:  Mercury reaches greatest elongation tonight.  It is a challenge to see in the bright twilight. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/09/03/2021-september-13-mercury-at-greatest-elongation/

September 14, 2021: This evening the bright gibbous moon is in a section of the constellation Sagittarius that is frequently known as the Teapot.  Additionally, Evening Star Venus, bright Jupiter, and Saturn are in the evening sky. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/09/02/2021-september-14-moon-steeps-in-teapot/

September 10-13, 2021:  The waxing moon passes the classic Scorpion in the evening sky.  Look for them in the south-southwest during the early evening hours. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/09/01/2021-september-10-13-moon-scorpion/

September 9, 2021:  After this evening’s grouping, Evening Star Venus, the crescent moon, and Spica do not appear this close together until 2026.  This is one of four groupings that fit into the same binocular field through 2036. For the fifth occasion during this evening apparition of Venus, the moon passes the brilliant Evening Star. This episode is also available as a blog post: https...

September 7 & 8, 2021:  The crescent moon, emerging from bright sunlight after its New moon phase, appears near Mercury on these evenings.  On September 8, use a binocular to find the crescent 5.0° to the upper right of the speedy planet. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/08/30/2021-september-7-8-mercury-lunar-crescent/