In Vineyard Skies
This is the weekend when both the Moon and Jupiter upstage all other celestial events.
Mercury appears next to a thin crescent moon Friday night.
Spotting Mercury is difficult. It is one of the most challenging visible planets to see, always close to the sun, always close to the horizon.
In the wee hours of Monday morning, long before sunup, the gibbous moon appears close to the red planet Mars.
Spring arrives on Sunday, March 20 in the earliest hour of the morning, at 12:30 a.m.
Mars and Saturn are favorite planets. Mars is red and perhaps the most likely planet to have extraterrestrial life
The nights ahead will be moonless for most of the coming week.
On Monday morning well before sunrise, the gibbous moon appears near the bright red planet Mars.
The full moon, the Snow Moon, rises in the east right after sunset on Monday.
The first quarter moon appears on Sunday night, the night of Valentine’s Day, in the zodiacal constellation Taurus.
You have a wonderful opportunity to spot Mercury low in the southeastern sky Saturday morning.
Groundhog Day and along with it the start of February has significance for anyone who enjoys milder starry nights.
