Is it a plane? No, Just Venus

We’ve watched Venus hover over the treeline in Tisbury for weeks. This is a planet everyone can find, as long as you have a clear view of the western sky. Early in the evening Venus looks like an airplane coming in to land at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport.

Venus hugs close to the western sky and sets about an hour after sunset, so viewing is limited.

Tonight the gibbous moon appears right next to Jupiter which can be seen by far more viewers as it conveniently rises in the eastern sky a few hours after sunset and stays in the east for a good part of the evening. Jupiter is in the zodiacal constellation Gemini.

The last quarter moon appears near Mars the night before Thanksgiving but to see it you have to get up around 2 a.m. The red planet Mars is getting closer and easier to see, though it rises in the wee hours of the morning.

Mars will take charge of the night sky in the coming spring. But for now the planet is slowly brightening and easier to pick out in the late night sky. Mars is in the zodiacal constellation Leo.

Mars is closest to the earth, in opposition, early in April. From now until then we can expect to see the planet brighten while also rising earlier in the evening.