March 1 - Venus and the Moon Together in the Morning Sky

Heads up skywatchers. Don't forget that Venus will be just 2 degrees to the right and slightly below the waning moon in the early morning hours of Monday, March 1. (Two degrees  is about two thumb thicknesses at arms length.) The pair will make a lovely sight in binoculars, but also, once you find Venus, you should be able to see it in the daytime sky with the naked eye. This will be something to brag about to your friends.

The image below shows what the sky will look like from Israel on Monday morning at 8:00AM. The moon moves its own diameter (1/2 a degree) eastward in the sky about every 50 minutes (call it an hour). So you can adjust the relative position of the moon and venus accordingly. But don't wait too late, since Venus will become harder to find as the moon moves farther away.

The sun, moon, and Venus in the morning sky of Israel at 8:00AM, IST, March 1, 2011. (Click for full size image.)

Related articles

• Venus and the Moon Offer Early-Bird Skywatching Treat (space.com)
• Seeing Venus in the Daylight (www.astronomyisrael.com)