Earth & Sky

Tonight’s first quarter moon appears half-lit by sunshine and half-engulfed in its own shadow. At nightfall, the planet Uranus lurks nearly 5 degrees to the lower left of the moon. Uranus is not visible to the eye. The moon and Uranus are in a part of the sky that the ancient stargazers imagined as “watery.” Many constellations associated with water lie in this part of the sky. Uranus and the moon are near the border of the constellations Aquarius the Water Bearer and Pisces the Fishes.

The Pleiades has something in common with the Big and Little Dippers. All three are “asterisms” which means they are recognizable patterns within a larger constellation. The Pleiades is an actual cluster of stars in space. Although the cluster is often called the “Seven Sisters,” most people see just six stars here.

Tonight’s waxing crescent moon lies to the upper left of the blazing planets Venus and Jupiter. As seen from North America this evening, the moon swings within one degree (two moon diameters) of the planet Neptune. Will you spot Neptune with the unaided eye? Not a chance. This world is 6 times fainter than the faintest star that you can see in a dark country sky. Still, it’s fun to stand on Earth’s surface tonight and imagine Neptune up there, hidden in the depths of space, lost in the moon’s glare.

Last Sunday, Venus and Jupiter were in conjunction. That means they were near each other and aligned north-to-south on the sky’s dome. However, these brilliant planets will appear almost as close together this evening. Be sure to catch them to the lower right of the waxing crescent moon in early evening. Venus and Jupiter will set about 3 hours after the sun tonight.

Yesterday, the blazing planets Venus and Jupiter were in conjunction at dusk. Can it get any better? Yes, because this evening the waxing crescent moon joins the show. As seen from much of North America, this heavenly threesome will fit within a single binocular field. Don’t miss them!

According to clocks in the U.S., the blazing planets Venus and Jupiter will be in conjunction this evening. Venus will pass south of Jupiter at 7 p.m. Central Time this Sunday evening. The slim crescent moon also happens to be nearby. It’s fun to contemplate how ancient stargazers might have interpreted the coming together of two such brilliant planets, plus the moon! Whatever you do, don’t miss this beautiful sky scene.