When the Curves Line Up

July 18, 2021: All five bright planets – Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn – are visible during the nighttime hours. Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury in the sky before sunrise.  Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are in the sky after sundown. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/07/10/2021-july-18-planetary-platter/

July 21, 2021:  This evening Venus and Jupiter are in opposite directions from Earth, 180° apart along the plane of the solar system.  Jupiter rises as Venus sets, signaling that they appear in the sky at the same time. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/07/09/2021-july-21-venus-jupiter-opposition/

July 17, 2021: Evening Star Venus and Mars continue their seemingly choregraphed line dance in the western sky after sunset.  Venus is east of Mars and moving toward the star Regulus. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/07/08/2021-july-17-line-dance-in-evening-western-sky/

July 16, 2021: Evening Star Venus races away from Mars and toward Regulus in the western sky.  The moon is near the star Spica. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/07/07/2021-july-16-western-planetary-two-step/

Another year to note the first human moon landing. Fifty-two years ago, humans walked on the moon for the first time.  Will we return?  Promises have been made and plans are unfolding. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/07/06/1969-july-20-when-the-curves-lined-up/

July 15, 2021:  Each evening the moon continues to move eastward with a waxing phase while Venus and Mars dance in the western sky. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/07/05/2021-july-15-evening-celestial-wheel-turns/

July 10-18 2021: Before sunrise Jupiter and Saturn are in the south-southwest before sunrise.  Through a binocular watch them move westward compared to the starry background. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/07/04/2021-july-10-18-watch-jupiter-saturn-retrograde/

July 14, 2021: This evening, look for the crescent moon to the upper left of the Evening Star Venus.  Regulus is to the upper left of Venus, while Mars is to the lower right. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/07/03/2021-july-14-evening-star-venus-mars-moon/

July Early Mornings, 2021:  Step outside as morning twilight begins, about two hours before sunrise.  Look high in the south for the Summer Triangle, high above Jupiter and Saturn. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/07/02/2021-early-july-mornings/

July, 2021:  During the early evening sky, Hercules is nearly overhead as evening twilight ends.  The constellation has a spectacular star cluster. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/07/01/2021-early-july-hero-highest/

July 13, 2021:  During the nighttime hours, five bright planets are visible.  Jupiter and Saturn are visible from late in the evening until sunrise. Mercury is visible before sunrise, while Venus, Mars, and Venus are in the evening sky. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/30/2021-july-13-planetary-buffet/

July 8, 2021:  The best morning to see Mercury is with the thin crescent moon this morning.  Starting with a binocular, look for them in the east-northeast about 45 minutes before sunrise.  Jupiter and Saturn are easy to see in the southern sky about one hour before sunrise. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/29/2021-july-8-crescen...

July 7, 2021: Bright Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury are in the morning sky before sunrise.  The Jovian Giant and Ringed Wonder are in the southern sky about one hour before sunrise. Mercury is in the east-northeast to the lower left of the crescent moon. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/28/2021-july-7-three-morning-planets-crescent-moon/

July 11, 2021:  One evening before the Venus – Mars conjunction, the crescent moon joins the scene.  Look in the west-northwest for the Evening Star.  The crescent moon is to the right of Venus.  Use a binocular to locate Mars to the left of Venus. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/27/2021-july-11-evening-star-venus-mars-cres...

July 10, 2021:  Evening Star Venus approaches Mars for their conjunction it two evenings.  At 45 minutes after sunset, look for brilliant Venus low in the west-northwest.  Mars is 1.5° to the upper left of Venus.  Use a binocular to view Mars with Venus. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/26/2021-july-10-venus-mars-conjunction...

July 9, 2021:  Brilliant Evening Star Venus and Mars are in the west-northwest after sunset.  Use a binocular to find the Red Planet, 2.0° to the upper left of easily-observed Venus. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/25/2021-july-9-venus-mars-conjunction-in-3-nights/

July 8, 2021: Evening Star Venus is 2.6° to the lower right of Mars this evening, four evenings before their conjunction.  The star Regulus is to the upper left of the planetary pair. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/24/2021-july-8-venus-mars-conjunction-4-evenings/

July 2021:  Elusive Mercury appears in the morning sky in the east-northeast during morning twilight.  The best mornings to see Mercury are July 7 and July 8, when the moon is nearby. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/23/2021-july-mercurys-summer-morning-visibility/

July 7, 2021:  In five evenings, Venus passes Mars for the first conjunction in a triple conjunction that carries into 2022.  Look for them low in the west-northwest after sunset. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/23/2021-july-7-venus-mars-countdown/

July 6, 2021:  In less than a week, brilliant Venus passes Mars in the west-northwestern sky after sunset.  This evening the two planets are 3.8° apart.  Venus is over 18° to the lower right of the star Regulus. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/22/2021-july-6-venus-mars-final-approach/

July 1 – July 7, 2021, the waning crescent appears in the eastern sky.  Early in the viewing period, the moon is among the dim stars of Pisces.  As the week progresses, the moon wanes and moves farther eastward, appearing near Taurus. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/22/2021-july-1-7-morning-moon/

July 5, 2021:  Our planet Earth reaches its farthest point in its yearly trek around the sun.  Our seasons are not related to Earth’s distance from the sun.  Coincidentally, the moon is at its farthest point from Earth today. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/21/2021-july-5-earth-at-aphelion/

July 5, 2021:  Venus continues to close in on Mars in the west-northwest after sunset.  In a week Venus passes the Red Planet. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/21/2021-july-5-evening-star-venus-mars-evening-sky/

July 4, 2021: The Venus – Mars conjunction is eight days away.  This evening Venus moves to within 5° of the Red Planet . This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/20/2021-july-4-venus-aims-at-mars/

June 21, 2021:  Jupiter begins retrograde, moving westward compared to the distant stars, today. The Jovian Giant, among the stars of Aquarius, is in the southern sky before sunrise. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/19/2021-june-21-jupiter-retrogrades/