The two brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, continue to dance low in the southwestern sky after sunset. Take a look. The two were closest together on Wednesday. They are separating. Jupiter is now appearing under Venus. In the weeks ahead Jupiter will noticeably sink lower into the evening twilight. Venus will continue to grow in height and set later in the evening. Venus will be at its highest in mid-June. Right now the two planets are in the zodiacal constellation Pisces. Jupiter will be in Pisces for a while.

The two brightest planets, Jupiter and Venus, appear close together on the evening of Wednesday, March 1. You'll see the two low in the southwestern sky right after sunset. In this conjunction the two are only a half a degree apart. To most observers the two will look as one bright object, as bright as an airplane approaching the runway with its landing lights on.

Moon and Mars

On Tuesday and Wednesday nights a thin crescent moon is in proximity to the bright planets Venus and Jupiter. The three are low in the southwestern sky right after sunset and available for viewing for a short time.

Tomorrow night a comet will appear in close proximity to the red planet Mars. The comet known as the "Green Comet," has a scientific name C/2022 E3 ZTF and has been watched by astronomers for months. Unfortunately, it is extremely faint. It is too dim to see even with binoculars for many.

You have a chance to see it if you have powerful binoculars and or at least a small telescope. Look in the area close to the red planet Mars, now in the zodiacal constellation Taurus, almost directly overhead around 8 p.m.

Sunday's full moon, The Snow Moon, appears in the zodiacal constellation Leo. While the season says winter now, there is a warmer thought. Leo is a constellation we associate with spring. Not far from the moon there is the bright star Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation.

It is a welcome thought, that our full moon each month appears in the constellation of the season ahead.

On Monday night the gibbous moon appears close to the red planet Mars. Both are in the zodiacal constellation Taurus. For those who have watched Mars, the planet has clearly lost its brilliance of a month ago. When Mars was in opposition in early December, it was the brightest it has been in many years. Mars is now farther from us and thus not as bright. Astronomers estimate the planet is 81 million miles away, almost twice as far away as it was two months ago. Our Earth is moving rapidly away from Mars By the end of February Mars will be 102 million miles away.

The planets Saturn and Venus will be so close together Sunday night, you may miss it. The planets will be only a half degree apart, so close that the sight requires special attention.

Both planets are low in the southwestern sky right after sunset. The two will be amid the glow of twilight. As the night darkens, Venus will continue to brighten, looking almost like an airplane coming in with landing lights on. Take a more careful look at Venus for Saturn.

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.

Tonight's full moon, the Ice Moon, appears in the zodiacal constellation Gemini. Take a look and you'll see the moon in close proximity to the two brightest stars in the constellation Pollux and Castor. Pollux is the brighter of the two and the brightest star in the constellation. The moon forms a nice triangle with the two.

The evening skies in the New Year will be filled with planets. Every visible planet, but Mercury, are appearing in our night sky. It is a parade across the evening sky, starting with Mars to the East. Next there is Jupiter and Saturn. Saturn is really close to Venus low in the southwestern sky after sunset.

Saturn and Venus are only visible for a short time before, together the two descend into the twilight.

Mars will be visited by a bright gibbous moon on Tuesday night. Or, you can look Monday night for them fairly close. They are in the zodiacal constellation Taurus.