The brightest planet in our sky, Venus is a beautiful sight early in the morning. The planet was visible last weekend over Edgartown harbor. It was so brilliant, it looked like an airplane approaching with landing lights from the east. With the Edgartown Lighthouse flashing red and the Cape Pogue lighthouse flashing white, Venus easily outshined them both.

Tomorrow morning, there is an especially pretty view for those who are up early enough and look to the east. Peek outside at 6 a.m. and you will see Venus above the thin crescent moon.

Venus continues to command the eastern sky before sunrise through the month. The bright star nearby is Regulus, the principle star in Leo.

Both are in the zodiacal constellation Leo.

Mars and the moon are together for two nights next week. On Wednesday and Thursday, look toward the southwestern sky after sunset. On both nights, the thin crescent moon appears close to the red planet Mars.

On Wednesday night, the moon is on the right side of Mars. On Thursday night, it appears above and to the left of the red planet.

Both are in Scorpius, one of the two southernmost constellations in the zodiac. Sagittarius is the second.

Mars is moving slowly toward Antares, the brightest star in Scorpius, also a red-colored celestial object. This can be viewed over the next week. Mars and Antares are closest on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 20.

M.A.L.