Sky this Month | Astronomy.com

December 2024: What’s in the Southern Hemisphere sky this month?

Alison Klesman — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 20:05:56 +0000

You don’t want to miss Jupiter this month. The giant planet reaches opposition and peak visibility December 7 against the stunning backdrop of Taurus the Bull. Shining at magnitude –2.8, Jupiter dominates the northeastern sky once darkness falls. Although the gas giant lies well north of the celestial equator — less than optimal for usContinue reading "December 2024: What’s in the Southern Hemisphere sky this month?"

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December 2024: What’s in the sky this month? Jupiter reaches its best Northern Hemisphere opposition in a decade

Martin Ratcliffe — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Jupiter reaches its best apparition in a decade for northern observers and offers a wealth of detail. Joining in late evening is brilliant Mars, now a month from opposition. Saturn is visible in the early evening, along with Venus soon after sunset. Uranus and Neptune remain visible with binoculars, and Mercury makes a fine morningContinue reading "December 2024: What’s in the sky this month? Jupiter reaches its best Northern Hemisphere opposition in a decade"

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November 2024: What’s in the sky this month?

Martin Ratcliffe — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +0000

November brings many sights to explore, including Mercury in the early evening, Mars brightening, and the giant planets Jupiter and Saturn adding to the spectacle. Jupiter in particular is reaching its best apparition in a decade for Northern Hemisphere observers. Let’s start soon after sunset. Mercury hugs the southwest horizon and remains easily visible throughoutContinue reading "November 2024: What’s in the sky this month?"

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October 2024: What’s in the sky this month?

Martin Ratcliffe — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 05:00:00 +0000

October finds Mercury and Venus in the evening sky. Mercury is shy and takes some effort to see, but brilliant Venus is not hard to find. Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, and Jupiter rise in that order before midnight. Mars becomes a fine bright object in the predawn sky, standing high in the east. And C/2023 A3Continue reading "October 2024: What’s in the sky this month?"

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September 2024: What’s in the sky this month?

Martin Ratcliffe — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 05:00:00 +0000

Venus lingers after sunset. Saturn reaches opposition Sept. 8 and Neptune reaches opposition on the 20th. Jupiter dominates Taurus and Mars improves as it passes into Gemini. Mercury makes its best morning appearance in the Northern Hemisphere and the last week of September could offer a naked-eye comet. Venus is visible in the west forContinue reading "September 2024: What’s in the sky this month?"

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August 2024: What’s in the sky this month?

Martin Ratcliffe — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Venus is a bright evening star for a short period after sunset, beckoning skywatchers to view the oncoming string of planets. Saturn puts on a great show when it rises in the late evening. You can also grab a pair of binoculars to spy Uranus and Neptune — we provide guides below. The real spectacleContinue reading "August 2024: What’s in the sky this month?"

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July 2024: What’s in the sky this month?

Martin Ratcliffe — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The planets are spreading out this month. Mercury and Venus lie in the evening sky; after midnight the next set of planets rises one after the other, led by Saturn. It’s followed into the early-morning sky by Neptune, Mars, Uranus, and Jupiter. Saturn in particular is stunning, with the rings at their narrowest for theContinue reading "July 2024: What’s in the sky this month?"

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Sky This Month: June 2024

Martin Ratcliffe — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 14:00:00 +0000

June’s pre-dawn sky finds six planets strung along the ecliptic, spanning 72° on the 1st. In order of increasing elongation from the Sun, they are Jupiter, Mercury, Uranus, Mars, Neptune, and Saturn. A 24-day-old waning crescent Moon joins the line of objects, 16° east of Saturn. It’s a great time to become acquainted with manyContinue reading "Sky This Month: June 2024"

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Sky This Month: May 2024

Martin Ratcliffe — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 20:21:52 +0000

The evening sky loses its last planet early in May, shifting the attention of planetary observers to the morning. Try to glimpse Jupiter before it’s lost in the Sun’s glow soon after sunset. Meanwhile, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, and Neptune are up before sunrise. A waning crescent Moon joins the group twice during May, adding beautyContinue reading "Sky This Month: May 2024"

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Sky This Month: April 2024

Martin Ratcliffe — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 13:00:00 +0000

It’s here at last! The April 8 total eclipse of the Sun is visible from a narrow track spanning North America from southwest to northeast. While the majority of people across the U.S. will see a partial eclipse of varying degrees, millions will travel to be in that special location inside totality for the spectacleContinue reading "Sky This Month: April 2024"

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