Astroblog: A Morning of Bright Planets and the Moon (10 October 2015)

Friday, October 09, 2015

A Morning of Bright Planets and the Moon (10 October 2015)

Early morning sky on Saturday October 10 looking east as seen from Adelaide at 6:00 am ACDST showing Venus and the crescent Moon forming a triangle with Mars and Jupiter. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).

While the excitement of the Occultation of Venus is over, in the coming days we have more planetray action. Unfortunately it is al in the morning. Starting tomorrow morning with the crescent Moon forming a triangle with Mars and Jupiter, with Venus above very close to the bright star Regulus.

Mars and Jupiter are relatively close to the horizon, and are only a hand-span above the horizon an hour before sunrise (nautical twilight). You may require a flat unobstructed horizon to see them.

During the rest of the week Mars and Jupiter come closer together, a prelude to their closest approach on the 18th.

Labels: Conjunction, Jupiter, Mars, Moon, unaided eye, Venus