December starts with a waxing gibbous moon well on its way up as the sun sets. Meanwhile, Saturn and Mercury are close together in the west setting together. Many of the favorite winter constellations rise during the night. But it is well after midnight before we see any more planets. Mars rises next to Spica […]

Saturn is low in the sky, almost setting, with Sagittarius and Ophiuchus as November begins. It is lower and lower each evening as the month goes on. Around the middle of the month, you may notice an object below and right of Saturn moving leftward night to night. You have to be out not long […]

As October starts, Jupiter is setting not long after the sun. Our evening sky has Saturn in the southern part of Ophiuchus a little past the meridian at sunset. Sagittarius is closer to the meridan, but still past it. A waxing gibbous moon is in Capricornus. And Pegasus is rising. Taurus, with the Hyades and […]

As September starts, Jupiter is in Virgo in the west at Sunset and will stay close to the bright star Spica all month. Saturn is in the south in Ophiuchus. A waxing gibbous moon is a little east of there in Sagittarius. Pegasus is rising. In the morning sky, Gemini and Orion are prominent. Venus […]

Total solar eclipse   The big event this month is the total solar eclipse. The path of totality runs from the northern Pacific Ocean, across the continental United States, and to the northern Atlantic Ocean. Partial phases are visible from just about all of North America and South America.   The last time a central […]

Mercury and Mars are sunset objects for northern hemisphere observers at the start of July. Mercury gets a little easier to see but stays typically close to the horizon all month. Watch for it to pass the star Regulus around the 25th as the constellation Leo lowers in the sky evening after evening. Conveniently, a very […]

Mars is in the west just after sunset at the start of June. Find it below Gemini. A thickening crescent moon is approaching Leo. Jupiter is in Virgo on the meridian as darkness sets in while Arcturus is high in the east.. Saturn rises not long after sunset. You’ll find the ringed planet in the […]

At the start of May, Orion is setting not long after the sun. Taurus is right of it with red Mars right of the Hyades V rivaling orange Aldebaran. Leo is on the meridian. Jupiter is in Virgo heading toward Porrima near the meridian. Arcturus and Boötes are high in the east.   Night to […]

Mercury and Mars are easily seen in the west just after sunset as April starts. Mercury is at its greatest elongation, this time 19° east of the sun on the 1st. Mars is a little above it. You’d better catch the messenger planet while you can though. It’s heading toward inferior conjunction on the 20th. […]

In March, Leo rises as darkness sets in. Gemini is a little higher in the east and Orion higher still. Pisces is setting, and you’ll find Mars and Venus alongside the eastern fish at the start of the month. Look for Mars to pass right of a star called Torcularis Septentrionalis and left of another […]