When the Curves Line Up

During 2021 into 2022, Venus passes Mars three times for a triple conjunction.  The first occurs on July 12, 2021.  The others occur during early 2022, followed by a close approach of the two planets. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/18/2021-2022-venus-mars-triple-conjunction/

July 6, 2021:  This is the second bright planet – planet opposition this month.  Venus and Saturn are in opposite directions from Earth.  Venus sets about the time that Saturn rises.  After this date, Venus and Saturn together are in the evening sky until early 2022. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/17/2021-july-6-venus-satu...

June 19, 2021: The waxing moon appears with Spica in the southwestern sky during the early evening hours. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/16/2021-june-19-evening-sky-moon-spica/

June 26 – June 30, 2021:  The bright gibbous moon passes Jupiter and Saturn in the morning sky before sunrise.  Observe that the moon is in a different spot each morning, farther east toward the impending sunrise. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/15/2021-june-26-june-30-bright-moon-morning-planets/

June 15, 2021:  The moon is with the Sickle of Leo this evening.  Step outside about an hour after sunset to find the crescent moon that is about 30% illuminated over one-third of the way up in the west. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/14/2021-june-15-moon-sickle-of-leo/

July 12, 2021:  Venus – Mars conjunction evening.  Evening Star Venus passes 0.5° to the upper right of the Red Planet.  The crescent moon is nearby. This is the first of three conjunctions of Venus and Mars – a triple conjunction. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/13/2021-july-12-venus-mars-conjunction/

July 1, 2021:  Saturn and Mars are in opposite directions in the sky.  Mars sets as Saturn rises. In about a week, the two planets are visible in the sky at the same time.  This event signals that the planet parade is starting to reorganize. During July, three other planet – planet oppositions occur, leading up to a challenging view of the five bright planets during mid-August. This...

June 13, 2021:  After sunset, look for the thin crescent moon near Mars.  The lunar sliver is also to the upper left of the star Pollux. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/11/2021-june-13-moon-passes-mars/

June 11, 2021:  During the early evening brilliant Evening Star Venus and the crescent moon appear together in the west-northwest after sunset.  The pairing is the second closest during this appearance of Venus in the evening sky. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/10/2021-june-11-venus-moon-conjunction/

June 23 – 30, 2021:  Venus is quickly catching Mars in the western sky after sun.  Venus passes the Red Planet next month. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/09/2021-june-23-30-evening-star-venus-mars/

The Perseid meteor shower peaks on the morning of August 12. This year promises favorable observing without the moon in the sky during the shower. The meteors are the dust from comet that vaporize when they strike the atmosphere. Sirius may be visible in the southeast about 45 minutes before sunrise. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/08/2021-aug...

June 16, 2021:  A summer project is to build a sidewalk solar system model. The scale uses the sun’s size as the size of a basketball.  Earth’s distance is 88 feet. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/07/2021-june-16-sidewalk-solar-system/

June 20 – June 23, 2021:  The bright moon appears near the classic Scorpion.  On the first two evenings, the lunar orb appears near the pincers and on the next two, it’s near the scorpion’s heart. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/06/2021-june-20-23-scorpion-moon/

June 15 – June 22, 2021:  Brilliant Evening Star Venus shines in the west-northwest after sunset.  It continues to close the distance to Mars.  Venus shines from Gemini, beneath Castor and Pollux.  Mars marches eastward in Cancer, approaching the Beehive star cluster. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/05/2021-june-15-22-eveni...

June 18 – 19, 2021:  The waxing moon is moving through Virgo.  On June 18, it is near Porrima.  The next evening, the moon is above Spica. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/04/2021-june-18-19-moon-in-virgo/

June 15, 2021:  The Pleiades star cluster returns to the morning sky.  You may have observed the star cluster in the east-northeast during morning twilight. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/03/15-june-2021-pleiades-morning-return/

June 23, 2021:  Red Planet Mars appears to be in the Beehive this evening.  For clarity, it’s in the Beehive star cluster.  While low in the sky and in an unfavorable observing location, take a look with a binocular before the planet and the cluster set. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/02/2021-june-23-mars-in-the-beehive/

June 20, 2021:  The sun reaches the summer solstice mark in the sky, to signal the beginning of astronomical summer in the northern hemisphere. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/01/2021-june-20-summer-solstice/

June 17, 2021:  At mid-month, bright Jupiter and Saturn are in the southern sky before sunrise.  Saturn is retrograding in Capricornus.  Jupiter’s eastward direction is slowing as it turns westward to retrograde beginning June 21. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/05/31/2021-june-17-morning-planets/

June 15 – June 17, 2021:  The evening waxing moon passes Leo the Lion.  On June 15, the moon is near Regulus and Eta Leonis.  The next evening, June 16, the lunar orb is between Regulus and Denebola.  On June 17, the moon is beneath Denebola. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/05/30/2021-june-15-17-moon-passes-leo/

Mid-June, 2021:  As morning twilight begins – quite early this time of year – the great winged horse is in the south-southeast.  The Great Square of Pegasus is made of moderately bright stars.  The horse’s neck and head extend toward the south.  A star cluster is off the tip of the horse’s nose. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021...

August 18, 2021: During bright twilight, five planets and the moon are in the sky simultaneously after sunset.  This is a challenging observation made with the assistance of a binocular or spotting scope.  Mercury and Mars are at their closest in the west, with brilliant Venus to the upper left.  The moon, Saturn, and Jupiter are in the southeastern sky. The Mercury – Mars conjuncti...

June 10, 2021: From Eastern Canada to Eastern Russia, the moon incompletely blocks the sun.  A ring of sunlight is visible around the new moon, making an annular or ring eclipse.  From New England, a partial eclipse is visible as the sun rises.  The maximum eclipse visible from US locations is less than 80%. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup....

June 11 – 14, 2021:  After the solar eclipse, the crescent moon returns to the western sky after sunset appearing with Evening Star Venus on June 11.  Each evening the crescent waxes and appears higher in the sky.  The crescent is near Mars on June 13. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/05/27/2021-june-11-14-crescent-moon-evening-plan...

2021, June:  With a crescent moon in the eastern sky, bright Jupiter and Saturn are in the southern sky.  Saturn is retrograding in Capricornus, while Jupiter begins to slow its eastward progress in Aquarius. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/05/26/2021-june-5-early-june-morning-planets/