Brilliant week-long morning dance of the planets and our Moon paired with warmer nights and a challenging evening conjunction and close encounter at the end of the month make May a wonderful month to get out under the stars.
Three planets still hanging out in the early mornings, an early month unusual conjunction, and a meteor shower make this time of socially distancing ourselves a great time to get outside at night!
Venus still reigns over the March skies, with two conjunctions, three glorious visible planets each morning, and the astronomical start of spring.
February starts out slow, but picks up speed as the dawn skies get crowded with some favorite planets, a lunar flyby, an occultation of Mars for some, Venus shining bright all month, and all naked eye planets visible at some point.
January, though probably very cold, will bring us 2 close encounters, 1 meteor showers, and 4 naked-eye planets, along with some very long nights.
December, though probably very cold, will bring us some close encounters, a meteor showers, all 5 naked-eye planets, and some very long nights.
Prepare your instruments for planetary observations and it’s time for #Orionid #meteorshower. #365DaysOfAstro
September is very uneventful, with a week of a close encounter lineup of the Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn, and the rather uneventful Autumnal Equinox. However, the nights are getting longer and the days shorter and cooler.
August is yet another month of Jupiter and Saturn, their shining very bright in evening and perseid meteor showers.