There is a beautiful planetary lineup happening in the nights ahead. The brilliant planet Venus is getting closer to the ringed-planet Saturn. You can see the two early in the evening. The two are setting, following the sun, in the western sky. Every night ahead, the two get closer.

Venus and Saturn will be less than a degree apart on Sunday, January 22. But don't wait until then.

Our western skies are a fickle when it comes to weather. We all have to grab our clear night skies when we can. The two are in the zodiacal constellation Capricornus. The difference between them when it comes to distance from us is astounding. They look so close. Saturn is over 976 million miles away. Venus is only 139 million miles from us. We can do the math.

Though the two look close enough to touch, they are 837 million miles apart.

Antares and the Crescent Moon

A thin crescent moon rises on Wednesday morning, well before the sun. Take a look before dawn takes over and you'll see the moon right near the bright red star Antares. The two are in the zodiacal constellation Scorpius, a constellation we associate with summer.