Venus Visits the Pleiades

Our closest planetary neighbor, Venus, passed near the Pleiades, an open star cluster in early April 2020. This alignment was a stunning sight with the naked eye as well as with any magnification. Just this week Venus and our Moon aligned for another great show - if you had a cloudless view. A host of comets were also predicted to offer a sky show this year but two have fizzled as they rounded the sun. However, there is another promising ice ball (Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) on its way and may be seen in the northern hemisphere during mid-July. We will see.

Wherefore Art Thou Venus?

A transit by a planet across the disk of the Sun is rare. After being clear all day, some late afternoon clouds formed and hung around a few hours while Venus made its trek across the Sun. Tonight as I waited for the Sun to dive from the cloud deck as it neared sundown, I was hoping that a perfect orange sphere could be seen with a tiny black dot. This was not the case here in 42N land.

At sundown I was in contact with a fellow astronomer in Rochester, Minnesota. He had perfect weather and sophisticated equipment to do some direct magnified viewing of the Sun and Venus.
I parked in a bank parking lot that afforded a great western sky view. While on the phone, this Marion police car rolled up behind a truck just in front of me. At first I thought it was a SWAT attack but apparently the pull over was for a traffic violation. The real One Adam 12 crime was Venus not being seen during this transit from here. I guess I will have to instruct the future great grandchildren to view it in 2117.

First Star That I See Tonight

Burning in the western sky just after sunset is the planet Venus. You can't miss this bright, earth sized object if you have clear skies and an unobstructed view of the west. Yes, you may need hot coffee to warm you during the observation but the sight is worth the effort. Good binoculars or a small telescope will be able to resolve the planet's disk for you. Venus will be placed in the west for a few more weeks so you should have a chance to see it.


Also, just 30 degrees east of Venus (currently) is the solar system's largest planet, Jupiter. This massive planet can also be resolved in good binoculars or a small telescope. In fact Jupiter's four Galilean moons can often be seen. Jupiter and Venus will appear to move closer to each other from our vantage point until mid-March. Now is a good time to check celestial mechanics at their best. Good viewing. Know that.

Venus and Mercury are Alright Tonight

Low in the 42N western sky at twilight are the planets Venus and Mercury in apparent close proximity to each other. With each successive night the Earth, Venus and Mercury configuration will drift further apart. Also note that NASA's MESSENGER probe is on its way to Mercury now after a series of flybys. In March 2011 it will become the first spacecraft to orbit the planet and begin extensive imaging activities. For now here is your chance to see three planets without leaving your backyard. Hint: you are standing on one of the three planets. Know that.