2023, June 6: Handled Moon, Venus Approaches Mars – When the Curves Line Up

June 6, 2023: The bright moon is near the Teapots handle before sunup. After nightfall, brilliant Venus approaches Mars.

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by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 5:16 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 8:23 p.m. CDT. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times for your location. Times are calculated by the U.S. Naval Observatorys MICA computer program.

Here is todays planet forecast:

Morning Sky

An hour before sunrise the bright gibbous moon, 93% illuminated, is low in the south-southwest, at the handle of the Teapot of Sagittarius. The phase is clearly no longer full, but the moon easily casts shadows on the ground.

The moon is near the star Tau Sagittarii ( Sgr on the chart). With the moons brightness, the Teapot is washed out. Use a binocular to spot the star 0.7 to the upper right of the lunar orb.

For sky watchers in South America and Easter Island, the moon occults or eclipses the star.

Jupiter and Saturn are farther eastward at this hour. Saturn is easier to see, about 30 above the southeast horizon. While it is not as bright as Venus or Jupiter, it rivals the visual intensities of the bright stars this morning. The planet is now high enough above the filtering effects of the atmosphere for a good telescopic view, At lower altitudes height above the horizon the atmosphere tends to blur and redden astronomical objects. The view of Jupiter through a telescope suffers from that effect.

The Jovian Giant appears higher in the sky each morning as it emerges from bright sunlight into a darker and clearer sky. Look for it over 10 above the east horizon.

The star Fomalhaut, the mouth of the southern fish, is about 10 above the south-southeast horizon. Nearby, low in the east-southeast, Deneb Kaitos, the tail of the sea monster, is making its first morning appearance.

Thirty minutes before sunrise, Mercury is visible through a binocular. The speedy planet is over 5 above the east-northeast horizon and 20 to Jupiters lower left. The planet is brightening, but at this level of morning twilight, it is difficult to see without the binoculars optical assist.

Two other planets, Uranus and Neptune, are in the sky this morning, but they are too dim to see in this bright twilight.

Evening Sky

After sundown, brilliant Venus gleams in the western sky. An hour after nightfall, the Evening Star is over 20 up in the sky and 8.9 to the upper left of Pollux, a Gemini Twin. The planet is stepping eastward in front of Cancer, that seemingly open space between Pollux and Regulus, Leos brightest star. Venus is quickly overtaking Mars, 8.7 to the upper left.

The Red Planet is dimmer than might be expected. It is about the brightness of Castor, the other Twin, over 20 to the lower right of the planet.

Mars is still in the same binocular field of view with the Beehive star cluster. The separation is 2.6 with Mars to the upper left of the cluster.

RECENT PODCASTS

June 5, 2023: Before sunrise, the moon seems balanced on the spout of the Teapot. Jupiter and Saturn are visible before daybreak, while Venus closes the gap to Mars.

June 4, 2023: The star Fomalhaut has made news recently with a possible asteroid belt. It is visible to the lower right of Saturn before daybreak.

June 3, 2023: The Strawberry moon rises in the southeast after sunset. Venus steps into the Cancer to the upper left of Pollux.

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2023, June 6: Handled Moon, Venus Approaches Mars - When the Curves Line Up