Be sure to catch Venus and Mercury in the western sky after sunset Thursday, which is at 5:41 p.m.
At 6, Venus will be nearly 18 degrees above the horizon with Mercury slightly to the right (north) and closer to the horizon. Continue to watch them every evening as they get farther apart, with Mercury growing closer to the horizon until it disappears from our evening sky before the end of the month.
It is very challenging to get up early before sunrise on a cold winter morning. It is worth the effort to look at the southeastern sky around 6:15 to 6:30 a.m Friday β about an hour prior to sunrise (7:25 a.m.).
The thin 25-day-old waning crescent moon will be less than a degree north (left) of Saturn, quite a sight in binoculars or a low power telescope. Ten degrees below the moon and Saturn toward the southeastern horizon will be red Antares in the heart of Scorpius the Scorpion. If your sky is really clear and dark, you might also catch a glimpse of the Milky Way rising along the horizon.
Be sure to look for the moon, Venus, and Mercury next Wednesday evening, the 21st. The moon will be less than 2 days old after sunset (5:47 p.m.), having a wonderful very thin crescent phase with earthshine on its unlit portion. Five degrees south (left) of the moon will be Venus and below the moon toward the western horizon will be Mercury about 5 degrees from the moon. These three beautifies form an equatorial triangle that will be delightful to watch until they get really low against the horizon around 6:45 p.m. Have binoculars available to better enjoy the view and to follow them as long as possible.
