Moon and planets align this weekend – don’t miss it

If it’s clear in the west tonight, your eyes will twinkle with extra added sparkle. The crescent moon slides just a few degrees to the right of Venus, while Jupiter shines above and Mercury below. You’ll want to be out … Continue reading →

What a sky show tonight! Venus and the moon are joined by Jupiter and Mercury in the western sky during evening twilight. Maps created with Stellarium
If it’s clear in the west tonight, your eyes will twinkle with extra added sparkle. The crescent moon slides just a few degrees to the right of Venus, while Jupiter shines above and Mercury below. You’ll want to be out about a half hour after sunset to see Mercury glowing ember-like in the pale orange of dusk just eight degrees above the western horizon. The other three luminaries are much higher in the sky and visible up to 3 hours after sunset.
I’ve drawn in the ecliptic, the line that defines the path of the planets, just so you can see how flat our solar system is. If it wasn’t, the planets might be all over the sky and never line up as they will be tonight. In order of ...