Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter all congregate in the morning sky, joined by the Waning Moon and the bright stars of Gemini this morning.
The Moon passes through Gemini this week, hanging with several planets in the predawn sky. Credit: Stellarium/USGS/Celestia/Clementine
- At 7 A.M. EDT, the Moon is observed 5° north of Venus, positioned between Venus and Pollux (magnitude 1.2).
- Pollux, despite being cataloged as Beta Geminorum, exhibits a slightly higher brightness (magnitude 1.6) than Castor (Alpha Geminorum).
- Venus displays a gibbous phase (81% illuminated, 13” apparent diameter) with Jupiter (34” apparent diameter) situated to its upper right; three of Jupiter’s Galilean moons (Io, Europa, and Callisto) are visible.
- Ganymede transits Jupiter’s shadow around 4:20 A.M. EDT, subsequently disappearing behind the planet.
The Moon passes 5° north of Venus at 7 A.M. EDT; in the early-morning sky, Luna now floats to the upper left of the blazing planet, between that world and the magnitude 1.2 star Pollux in Gemini.
Although cataloged as the Twins’ beta star, Pollux is actually a tad brighter than Alpha Geminorum, also called Castor. This star sits above Pollux in the sky as the constellation is rising in the east this morning, and shines at magnitude 1.6.
Looking at Venus through a telescope, you’ll note the planet’s gibbous phase. It is 81 percent lit and spans 13” on the sky. To its upper right is Jupiter, which stretches 34” across — a testament to its standing as the largest planet in the solar system by far. Many observers this morning will see only three of Jupiter’s four Galilean moons: Io alone to the east, and Europa and Callisto to the west. Europa is slightly closer to Jupiter than Callisto.
Ganymede passes into the planet’s long, dark shadow some 30” from Jupiter’s western limb around 4:20 A.M. EDT this morning, shortly after the planet rises for those in the eastern half of the U.S. The moon moves through the shadow and then finally behind the giant planet later this morning, keeping it invisible as the planet rises out of the horizon haze farther west.
Sunrise: 6:17 A.M.
Sunset: 7:49 P.M.
Moonrise: 3:03 A.M.
Moonset: 6:41 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waning crescent (8%)
*Times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset are given in local time from 40° N 90° W. The Moon’s illumination is given at 12 P.M. local time from the same location.
For a look ahead at more upcoming sky events, check out our full Sky This Week column.
