Our evening skies are filled with three celestial objects in the west this coming week: the Moon, Saturn and Venus. Every night is different.

A thin crescent moon will appear right next to the brilliant planet Venus on Sunday night, not long after sunset. It shouldn’t be missed, as the two are quite close. Both are in the zodiacal constellation Libra.

If you miss this opportunity, look again Monday night for the moon to appear higher in the west, and near the bright planet Saturn.

The moon is moving up, which is readily noticeable each night. Saturn and Venus are also moving, but slowly together. By the end of September, Venus and Saturn will be a close pair.

Venus is brilliant. Other than the moon, there is not a brighter celestial object in the west. Saturn is no match, though still a bright object.

Morning Planets

The planets Jupiter and Mars are our morning planets. For those who are outside an hour before sunrise, the planet Jupiter appears high in the east. The bright planet is in the zodiacal constellation Gemini.

Under Jupiter, about half distance between Jupiter and the horizon, is the red planet Mars. Mars is in the eastern edge of the zodiacal constellation Cancer. Mars is a dull red compared to what we saw more than a year ago. But, the planet is ever so slowly gaining in brightness.