Everyone is buzzing about that dazzling light in the southwest just after sunset—it’s Venus in the night sky this week! This celestial gem shines brightly, casting its pure white glow as the first “star” of the evening. Venus is on its way into the constellation Sagittarius and is currently the second brightest object in the night sky, only outshone by the moon. This is why it is called the King of the Planets. You might even spot Venus casting a faint shadow if you’re in a dark area! It sets about 2.5 hours after the sun, so catch it. On Wednesday the crescent moon passes just to the south of Venus.
Mercury has gone behind the sun but will emerge as a “morning star
Later in the evening, Jupiter takes center stage, rising in the east around 10 PM. You can’t miss it—it’s the third brightest object in the night sky and is hanging out between the horns of Taurus the Bull. Jupiter is close to Earth as it gets this week. As dawn approaches, Jupiter will dominate overhead, one of the last lights to fade in the sunrise. Keep an eye out for Orion, the mighty hunter, who also climbs up from the eastern horizon around this time.
High in the southwestern sky after dark, Saturn shines prominently in Aquarius. It’s easy to spot as the brightest object in that region. If you have a telescope, this is your chance to marvel at its famous rings.
Mars joins the show just before midnight, rising in Cancer near the bright stars Castor and Pollux in Gemini. As the year wraps up, the red planet will grow brighter, moving closer to Earth in its orbit. The red planet is overhead around 3:30 AM
As the night unfolds, Vega remains a standout in the west-northwest, with Deneb forming the Northern Cross above it. By 11 PM, the cross will stand upright on the northwest horizon, a beautiful marker of the season.
Overhead, the Great Square of Pegasus dominates the sky. In Greek mythology, Pegasus is the winged horse born from Medusa’s blood, a symbol of heroism. Just south of Pegasus, Fomalhaut—often called the “loneliest star”—shines in the southwest. This year, Fomalhaut has company: Saturn shines nearby, steady and bright, while Fomalhaut twinkles in the autumn skies.
The Big Dipper to the north is at its lowest point of the year. If you are in Miami, the dipper is below its horizon!
Enjoy this stunning celestial lineup throughout the week of December 6! The universe has quite a spectacle in store for us.