Conjunctions are when objects appear close together in the sky. On Feb. 28 and March 1, we will have a conjunction between a crescent moon, Venus and Mars. Look west-southwest and a third of the way up the sky from the horizon after sunset. Venus will be very bright and the red Mars will be above the moon on Feb. 28 and much fainter than Venus. On March 1, the moon will have moved up to the altitude of Mars and to Mars’ left. Conjunctions are common, not a bad omen, and result from the way that the planets and moon move in our skies. They orbit in roughly the same plane, so at times they appear in the same part of the sky.
To see the moon and these planets, visit the Insperity Observatory on public night, the first Friday of each month from sunset to 10 p.m. or check it out at humbleisd.net/observatory.
By Dr. Aaron B. Clevenson
Observatory Director, Insperity Observatory
