There are three brilliant planets low in the southwestern sky soon after sunset. You’ll need a clear unobstructed view of the horizon to see the planets — Venus, the brightest, Jupiter, not quite as bright and Saturn as they appear low in the sky.

All three are getting closer together. Venus is inching its way closer to Jupiter. The two will be side by side by the end of the month. Venus will move closer to Saturn, which is to the east of the two.

It is a remarkable collection of planets that will color the month. We’ve been watching this gathering for weeks. Jupiter and Saturn have been sharing the same area of the sky all summer. Next year the two will be even more spectacular, as they appear almost side by side.

Venus has only just recently appeared in our western sky. Venus was a morning planet during the summer.