When the Curves Line Up

April 20, 2021: Bright Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeastern sky before sunrise, gently moving eastward compared to the starry backdrop of Capricornus. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/12/2021-april-20-bright-jupiter-saturn-morning-planets/

April 20, 2021: Venus is very low in the west-northwest after sunset.  The gibbous moon is in Cancer, between Regulus and Pollux.  Mars, above the horns of Taurus, approaches the star cluster Messier 35. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/12/2021-april-20-venus-gibbous-moon-mars-evening-wonders/

April 19, 2021: The bright morning planets, Jupiter and Saturn, are in the southeastern sky before sunrise.  Capricornus is the starry background for this giant planet duo. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/11/2021-april-19-bright-jupiter-saturn-morning-planets/

April 19, 2021: Venus begins to appear in the west after sunset.  The moon lines up with Pollux and Castor, while Mars is above Bull’s horns in the western evening sky. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/11/2021-april-19-moon-twins-mars-evening-watch/

April 19, 2021:  The first evening appearance of Venus for this apparition occurs this evening.  Look for it low in the west-northwest about 20 minutes after sunset. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/11/2021-april-19-first-evening-appearance-of-venus/

April 18, 2021: The bright morning planets, Jupiter and Saturn, are in the southeastern sky before sunrise.  Capricornus is the starry background for this giant planet duo.  Daylight is 13 hours, 30 minutes long. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/10/2021-april-18-jupiter-saturn-morning-planets/

April 18, 2021:  The crescent moon is high in the west after sunset among the stars of Gemini, below Pollux and Castor.  Mars is above the Bull’s horns.  Daylight is 13 hours, 30 minutes long. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/10/2021-april-18-crescent-moon-mars-evening-sky/

April 17, 2021: The bright morning planets, Jupiter and Saturn, are in the southeastern sky before sunrise.  Bright Jupiter is passing a dim star.  Through a spotting scope or telescope the distant star seems to intermingle with Jupiter’s largest satellites. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/09/2021-april-17-morning-jupiter-saturn-dist...

April 17, 2021: During the early evening, the crescent moon is above Mars in the western sky.  Use a binocular to spot the star cluster M35 near the moon.  Mars is above the Bull’s horns. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/09/2021-april-17-evening-crescent-moon-mars-star-cluster/

April 16, 2021: Jupiter and Saturn are the morning planets in the southeastern sky before sunrise.  Jupiter is the brightest “star” in the region.  Through a spotting telescope or small telescope, the star Mu Capricorni seems to intermingle with Jupiter’s largest moons. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/08/2021-april-16-morning-planets...

April 16, 2021: Mars and the crescent moon are in the west after sunset.  Taurus is the starry drop for the planet and the lunar slice.  Use a binocular to see Mars and the crescent moon in the same field of view. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/08/2021-april-16-evening-crescent-moon-mars-taurus/

April 15, 2021: Morning planets Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeast before sunrise.  Jupiter is the brightest “star” in the region.  Through a telescope, Jupiter and its moon dance with a star. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/07/2021-april-15-jupiter-moons-dance-with-star/

April 15, 2021: The crescent moon appears near the “V” of Taurus this evening, while Mars is above the Bull’s horns.  Venus is nearing its first appearance in the western evening sky. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/07/2021-april-15-crescent-moon-taurus-mars/

April 14, 2021:  Jupiter and Saturn are low in the southeast before sunrise.  Jupiter is the brightest “star” in the region.  Saturn is dimmer and to the upper right of Jupiter.  The Jovian Giant is slowly moving away from the Ringed Wonder after their great conjunction. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/06/2021-april-14-brig...

April 14, 2021: The picturesque lunar crescent is to the lower left of the Pleiades star cluster after sunset. Earthshine can be seen on the moon’s night portion. Mars is higher in the sky between the Bull’s horns. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/06/2021-april-14-lunar-crescent-mars-evening-sky/

April 13, 2021: One hour before sunrise, Jupiter and Saturn are low in the southeastern sky.  They are moving eastward in Capricornus.  Use a binocular to make daily observations of the eastward drive. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/05/2021-april-13-jupiter-saturn-race-along-ecliptic-highway/

April 13, 2021: The crescent moon returns to the western evening sky after sunset.  Mars is now above the Bull’s horns in the west after sunset. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/05/2021-april-13-crescent-moon-mars-evening-sky/

April 12, 2021: Jupiter and Saturn are morning planets.  Jupiter is the brightest “star” in the southeast before sunrise.  Saturn is to Jupiter’s upper right.  Use a binocular to spot the dim stars. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/04/2021-april-12-jupiter-saturn-morning-planets/

April 12, 2021: Spica rises at sunset.  It is low in the east-southeast during the early evening hours.  Mars is halfway up in the west  as it moves between the Bull’s horns. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/04/2021-april-12-mars-between-the-horns/

April 11, 2021: Jupiter and Saturn are wandering through Capricornus.  They can be found low in the southeast before sunrise. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/03/2021-april-11-wandering-stars-jupiter-saturn/

April 11, 2021: The Red Planet is about halfway up in the western sky after sunset. Mars is marching eastward in Taurus near the Bull’s horns.  Watch it move between the horns during the next few evenings. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/03/2021-april-11-mars-through-the-bulls-horns/

April 10, 2021: Jupiter and Saturn are the bright stars in the southeast before sunrise.  Use a binocular to note their eastward movement compared to the background stars. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/02/2021-april-10-morning-planets-jupiter-saturn/

April 10, 2021: After sunset, Mars is about halfway up in the western sky near the horns of Taurus.  Mars is somewhat close to the Crab Nebula.  A telescope reveals a dim, cloudy patch of light. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/02/2021-april-10-mars-taurus-crab-nebula/

April 9, 2021: Morning planets Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeast before sunrise with Capricornus as their starry background.  During the evening, Mars continues to approach the Bull’s horns. Find the Red Planet about halfway up in the west after sunset This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/04/01/2021-april-9-am-jupiter-saturn-pm-mars/

April 8, 2021: Jupiter and Saturn are low in the eastern sky before sunrise.  As the sky brightens for the approaching sunrise, the crescent moon appears low in the east-southeast. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/03/31/2021-april-8-bright-jupiter-saturn-crescent-moon/