When the Curves Line Up

Mercury’s best appearance of 2021 occurs during May.  The planet is visible in the west-northwest above Venus.  The appearance begins during late April. On May 28, the apparition ends with a close Venus – Mercury conjunction, the closest easily visible until 2033. About 30 Venus – Mercury conjunctions occur during the interval, but some close groupings are lost in the sun’s glare. This e...

May 2, 2021: Five bright planets are visible during a 24-hour interval.  This evening, brilliant Evening Star Venus is in the west-northwest during bright twilight.  Mercury is above Venus.  Mercury is 3.4° to the lower left of the Pleaides star cluster. Mars is higher in the west when night falls. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/0...

May 2, 2021: Five planets are visible during a 24-hour cycle.  This morning the bright, gibbous moon joins bright Jupiter and Saturn in the southeastern sky before sunrise. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/24/2021-may-2-moon-with-morning-planets-jupiter-saturn/

May 1, 2021: Evening star Venus, Mercury, and Mars are in the western sky after sunset.  Venus and Mercury are visible during brighter twilight.  Mars is in Gemini below Castor and Pollux. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/23/2021-may-1-may-days-evening-star-venus-mercury-mars/

May 1, 2021: Before sunrise, the bright moon is in the south above the handle of the Teapot of Sagittarius.  Morning planets Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeast. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/23/2021-may-1-may-days-morning-planets-jupiter-and-saturn-moon/

April 30, 2021: Evening Star Venus and Mercury are low in the west-northwest after sunset.  Venus is beginning its evening appearance and Mercury is enroute to its best evening appearance of the year.  After night falls, Mars is in the west in Gemini.  Through a binocular, Mars is visible near the star cluster Messier 35. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenth...

April 30, 2021: The bright, morning gibbous moon is between Antares and Sagittarius, among the stars of Ophiuchus.  Bright Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeastern sky before sunrise. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/22/2021-april-30-bright-moon-bright-planets-jupiter-saturn/

April 29, 2021: The bright moon is in the southwest before sunrise, near the star Antares.  The morning planets, Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeast.  The planets are 15.0° apart. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/21/2021-april-29-morning-planets-jupiter-saturn-bright-moon/

April 29, 2021: Evening Star Venus and bright Mercury are in the west-northwest during bright twilight.  As the sky darkens, Mars is at the feet of Gemini in the western sky.  Through a binocular the Red Planet is above the star cluster Messier 35. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/21/2021-april-29-evening-star-venus-mercury-mars-in-ge...

April 28, 2021: This morning the bright moon appears to be caught in the pincers of the Scorpion and near the creature’s forehead.  Bright morning planets Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeast before sunrise . This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/20/2021-april-28-morning-moon-in-pincers-jupiter-saturn/

April 28, 2021: Evening Star Venus and bright Mercury are low in the west-northwest during bright evening twilight.  Later during the evening, Mars is at the feet of Gemini.  Use a binocular to spot the star cluster Messier 35 below the Red Planet.  Near midnight, the moon is in the southeast near Antares. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.co...

April 27, 2021: The bright Pink Moon is in the southwest before sunrise, near the southern pincer of the Scorpion.  Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeast moving eastward compared to the starry background. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/19/2021-april-27-morning-pink-moon-jupiter-saturn/

April 27, 2021: Evening Star Venus and Mercury climb into the evening sky in the west-northwest after sunset.  In a darker sky, Mars marches eastward in Gemini, near the feet of the Twins.  Look for the moon caught in the pincers of the Scorpion. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/19/2021-april-27-evening-star-venus-mercury-mars-moon-in...

April 26, 2021: The bright morning moon is in the west-southwest before sunrise.  Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeast at about one hour before sunrise.  Both planets are slowly moving eastward compared to the sidereal background. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/18/2021-april-26-morning-jupiter-saturn-bright-moon/

April 26, 2021:  The perigee full moon (supermoon), known as the Pink Moon, occurs this evening.  Evening star Venus and Mercury are above the west-northwest horizon after sunset. Use a binocular to see Mars closest to the star cluster Messier 35. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/18/2021-april-26-evening-star-venus-mercury-mars-pink-m...

April 25, 2021: Morning planets Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeast before sunrise.  Jupiter is in front of the stars of Aquarius, while Saturn’s starry background is Capricornus. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/17/2021-april-25-morning-planets-jupiter-saturn-in-southeast/

April 25, 2021: Mercury passes Evening Star Venus this evening after sunset.  Look low in the western sky about 20 minutes after sunset.  Mars is marching eastward in Gemini, near the star cluster Messier 35.  The bright moon is near Spica . This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/17/2021-april-25-mercury-venus-conjunction-mars-bright-m...

April 24, 2021:  The bright gibbous moon is near a star in Virgo during the early morning.  From parts of the Western Hemisphere, the moon covers the star.  Before sunrise, bright morning planets, Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeast before sunrise. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/16/2021-april-24-lunar-occultation-morning-pl...

April 24, 2021:  Brilliant Evening Star Venus and bright Mercury are entering the evening sky.  They are low in the west-northwest during evening twilight.  The bright moon is in the southeast in Virgo.  Mars moves into Gemini as it approaches the star cluster Messier 35. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/16/2021-april-24-eve...

April 23, 2021: Evening Star Venus and Mercury are entering the evening sky.  They are found very low in the west-northwest after sunset.  The bright moon is in the southeastern sky during the early evening.  Mars is moving toward the star cluster Messier 35. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/15/2021-april-23-evening-star-venus-me...

April 23, 2021: Bright Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeast before sunrise.  Jupiter is the brightest “star” in the region.  Saturn is to the Jovian Giant’s upper right. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/15/2021-april-23-jupiter-saturn-morning-planets/

April 22, 2021:  Bright Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeast before sunrise.  Jupiter approaches the Capricornus Aquarius border, while Saturn is near the star Theta Capricorni. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/14/2021-april-22-bright-jupiter-saturn-morning-sky/

April 22, 2021:  Brilliant Evening Star Venus is making its first appearance in the western sky after sunset.  Look just above the horizon at 20 minutes after sunset.  The bright, gibbous moon is in Leo.  Mars approaches the star cluster Messier 35 in a darker sky. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/14/2021-april-22-brilliant-...

April 21, 2021: Jupiter and Saturn are the bright morning planets in the southeast before sunrise.  The stars are in front of the backdrop of Capricornus.  The constellation looks like an oversized boomerang or stealth fighter. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/13/2021-april-21-morning-planets-jupiter-saturn-capricornus/

April 21, 2021: Evening Star Venus is making its first appearance in the west-northwest shortly after sunset.  The gibbous moon is near Leo, while Mars is near the foot of Castor. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/13/2021-april-21-evening-star-venus-gibbous-moon-mars/