When the Curves Line Up

December 24, 2022: After sundown, the crescent moon joins the rare five-planet display with Venus, Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars.

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December 23, 2022:  See a rare display of the five bright planets – Venus, Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars – simultaneously after sunset.

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December 22, 2022: Not until 2036 are five planets visible simultaneously.  From the sunset point, Venus, Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars lineup from the southwest to the east-northeast.

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December 21, 2022: The Winter Solstice occurs today at 3:48 p.m. CST. The morning crescent is near Antares.  After sundown, see the five bright planets.

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December 20, 2022: The waning lunar crescent is to the lower left of Zubenelgenubi before sunrise.  After sunset, look for the five bright planets from the southwest to the east-northeast.

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December 19, 2022:  Before sunrise, the crescent moon approaches the Scorpion’s pincers.  After sundown, attempt to spot the bright five planets.

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December 18, 2022: Before sunrise, the crescent moon is with Spica.  After sundown, the five bright planet display of Venus, Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars is beginning to appear.

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December 17, 2022: The thick morning crescent is near Porrima in Virgo this morning.  An evening display of the five bright planets is beginning to form.

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December 16, 2022:  The morning moon is in front of Virgo near the star Zavijava.  The bright outer planets – Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, are on display during the early evening.

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December 15, 2022: The slightly gibbous moon is below Leo this morning.  The five bright planets are about to appear together.  Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are easy to see during early evening hours.

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December 14, 2022: The morning gibbous moon is east of the Sickle of Leo.  Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are on display across the sky during the early evening.

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December 13, 2022: Fifty years ago, the Apollo 17 astronauts completed their exploration of the lunar surface.  Tonight, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are visible after sundown.

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December 12, 2022: Before sunrise, the gibbous moon is between Regulus and Pollux in front of Cancer.  After sundown, the three bright outer planets – Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn – decorate the sky.

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December 11, 2022: The Andromeda galaxy and a globular star cluster are visible above Jupiter and Saturn during the evening.  Mars joins the other two planets for a nightly display.

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December 10, 2022: The moon is with the Gemini Twins during the night.  Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn continue their overnight display, making the plane of the solar system.

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December 9, 2022: Venus and Mercury are beginning to appear in the southwest.  The current view is in bright twilight.  After dark, the moon, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn hang across the sky.

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December 8, 2022: Venus and Mercury are visible during bright evening twilight.  The three bright outer planets – Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn – and the moon are on display during the early evening.

Th…

December 7, 2022: Mars is at opposition – in the opposite direction from the sun – this evening.  The Full moon covers Mars in a rare occultation on opposition night.

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December 6, 2022: One night before a Mars opposition occultation, the moon is nearing the Red Planet.  Mars, Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn are seen along the arc of the solar system during the early even…

December 5, 2022: The bright star Deneb, the tail of Cygnus, is making its first morning appearance – heliacal rising.  Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn span the evening sky.

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