Conjunction Junction

by Michael Koop

This morning I headed into work early. It was about 30 minutes before sunrise. As I uncovered my car, I observed the wonderfully clear sky.

There were 4 objects lined up at zenith. Jupiter was shining so bright I felt that I would have no trouble finding it as the sun came up. Moving eastward, Saturn was next in the line followed next by a 3/4 Moon. What's that red star next to the moon?

It took me a minute to get my constellation bearings since the 1st magnitude stars were already invisible in the twilight. I finally realized that it was Aldebaran after I found Rigel and Betelgeux. Sirius was putting on quite a show, shimmering in the southeast.

(Well, the seeing must have sucked, but that's why it was so clear. Was it OK at Montebello on Wed. Night?) Venus was brighter than Jupiter in the East. I wondered where is Mercury? It was in the morning side of the sun for the solar eclipse, just 3 weeks ago.

Well, I just found it........