What is the bright star in the southwest sky?

The waxing gibbous moon travels away from the star Spica and toward the dazzling planet Jupiter on the nights of April 28, 29 and 30, 2018. Follow the links below to learn more about the planets in April 2018: Mars and Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, Mercury. read more

In June 2018, the sky’s 2 brightest planets can be seen in the same sky! The brightest planet Venus blazes in the west after sunset. Meanwhile, Jupiter – 2nd-brightest – is ascending in the east. As night passes, Venus will set, and Jupiter will ascend higher in the sky. Photo by Peter Lowenstein in Mutare, Zimbabwe. read more

Jupiter is the second brightest planet except on those rare occasions when it’s briefly outshone by Mars, as it will be in July. At the moment, though, the red planet is a still-impressive magnitude –1.8 and rises shortly before midnight. read more

It reflects light from the sun and that is why it can be confused for a star. Stars normally emit their own light and are much higher in position when compared to planets in the milky way. Mercury is another planet that can be spotted in the western sky. However, it is not as bright as Venus and appears much smaller in size. read more