Sunrise Sunset

Fri., March 30 6:28 7:04

Sat., March 31 6:26 7:05

Sun., April 1 6:25 7:06

Mon., April 2 6:23 7:07

Tues., April 3 6:21 7:08

Wed., April 4 6:20 7:09

Thurs., April 5 6:18 7:10

Fri., April 6 6:16 7:12

The two brightest planets in our western sky, Venus and Jupiter are parting company. Venus is high in the western sky, while Jupiter is well below. Two weeks ago, the two planets were close neighbors.

In the nights ahead, the two continue to separate. Jupiter will appear lower and lower in the western sky, while Venus retains its height. By the end of April, Jupiter is hard to find, too close to the horizon and too close to the sun to be seen.

The bright red planet Mars appears high in the east after sunset. The gibbous moon will appear near the planet on Monday and Tuesday nights. The two are in the zodiacal constellation Leo.

Mars is easy to spot. It is the brightest and has a reddish tint. Nearby there is a bluish white star known as Regulus. On Monday night, Regulus appears right in between the moon and Mars.

The ringed-planet Saturn rises in the east at about the same time as the sun sets in the west. Saturn appears higher later in the evening and can be picked out of a field of faint stars, the home of the zodical constellation Virgo. The brightest star in the constellation is Spica and it is the only celestial object in that part of the sky near Saturn. The two are close.

The full moon appears near both Saturn and Spica next Friday and Saturday nights.

M.A.L.