Sunrise Sunset

Fri., Feb. 25 6:23 5:26

Sat., Feb. 26 6:21 5:28

Sun., Feb. 27 6:20 5:29

Mon., Feb. 28 6:18 5:30

Tues., March 1 6:17 5:31

Wed., March 2 6:15 5:32

Thurs., March 3 6:13 5:34

Fri., March 4 6:12 5:35

The moon hasn’t disappeared though you can’t find it after the dinner hour. It is merely a resident of the early morning sky this weekend. For those who rise early, the moon appears low in the southeast in the crescent phase.

On Monday morning the moon appears next to the bright planet Venus. The two rise together in the east more than an hour before sunrise and are then bathed in the light of dawn. As sunrise approaches, the two are harder to see.

Both the moon and Venus are on the eastern edge of the zodiacal constellation Sagittarius and close to Capricornus. The two celestial objects appear even closer together on Tuesday morning. Next Friday will see the new moon.

Jupiter and Saturn

The largest planet in our solar system appears just above the light of twilight an hour after sunset. Jupiter is our westernmost planet. It sets but a few hours after the sun.

Saturn, the second largest planet in our solar system, is rising in the east about the same time Jupiter sets in the west. Saturn is best seen near midnight. It is the second brightest celestial object in the east. Saturn is in the zodiacal constellation Virgo and near Spica, the brightest star in the east. Saturn has a yellowish color, while Spica is blueish white.

M.A.L.