Mercury and Mars are about to appear close, but they're not having a conjunction in either right ascension or celestial longitude.

The moon passes in front of the Pleiades this week. As the Pleiades return to all night views, let's revisit why so many legends around the world say this star cluster represents seven beings but we see only six.

And more: Jupiter is about to go retrograde, Venus passes by Spica, and Neptune and Saturn remain somewhat close.

Mercury reaches greatest elongation. The moon reaches southern lunistice. Uranus continues traveling between the Pleiades and the Hyades.

Mercury zips past Mars. Saturn and Neptune remain paired. It's a good time of year to start looking at Algol eclipses. And we get a meteor shower during the new moon.

Mars appears to pass close to a quadruple star system this week. Keep looking at Saturn in a telescope for the rings to almost disappear. And I take the chance on telling you about a comet that may be bright enough to easily see.

The moon passes by a pair of planets. We have one of the closest full moons of the year. Venus gets away from the lion. And learn about the Saturn Nebula, named for the planet it sort of looks like in some views.

Mercury and Mars are in the evening sky for some observers. Saturn remains paired with Neptune. Venus slides under Leo's belly. And Cygnus is a good constellation to start with if you're interested in deep sky objects.

Saturn's at opposition. Neptune, too. They have moons with similar names. Orion shines bright in the morning. Venus slides under Leo's belly.

Part of the world gets a partial solar eclipse soon. Learn how eclipses are catalogued and grouped over thousands of years. Mercury comes out of conjunction. Mars continues heading into the sunset. Saturn's almost at opposition.

Mercury's missing. Well, not really. Saturn and Neptune rise around sunset. A minor meteor shower peaks this week. And learn how those distant, dim galaxies and nebulae get their names.

The coming full moon will be eclipsed. Mars and Virgo set. Jupiter and a star give you a vision test. Venus passes by the beehive.