Venus and Saturn closer; Mercury very low

Event Date: November 20th

Time: 6:30 AM

Brief

   Although Mercury is not quite visible enough to see with optical aid through the Sun's glare and atmospheric pollution, it will be easier in a few days.  In the meantime while we wait, let's take a look at Venus and Saturn approaching each other, with a fine conjunction in about a week.  Venus continues to approach the Sun for superior conjunction early next year, while Saturn pulls away from our star each day, separation-wise.  With the Sun still rising several seconds later each morning, Saturn rises a little less than four minutes earlier each morning.  Here they are with their images, shown along the ecliptic, with Mercury featured low as well, in orbit.

click on image to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

   Mercury brightens quickly for the rest of this month and next, while it approaches superior conjunction.  As it reaches that, it approaches aphelion and therefore, moves a little further from us on average, in regards to its orbit around the Sun.  Since we are approaching perihelion however, we keep up with Mercury slightly, and it becomes a good target with the Sun rising late and far south.

   As for Venus, it continues to wax as it decreases in angular size.  Although it is reflecting less Sunlight to our eyes, we still see it a little less than (-) 4 in magnitude, outshining everything around it except when the Moon is near.  As for Saturn, it is much dimmer than Venus, yet the ring tilt towards us means a very good magnitude for its upcoming opposition this spring.  Even now, as Saturn is just past conjunction, the ring tilt is good enough that we see it brighter than most stars nearby, at magnitude +0.6.  For some constellations, this may seem pedestrian.  However, now in eastern Virgo, only Spica (unlabeled, near Venus) is similar in brightness to Saturn, while most other Virgo stars, and those in western Libra, are much dimmer.