January 12, 2022:  Mercury moves to 3.4° to Saturn.  This quasi-conjunction, or near conjunction, of the two planets is visible in southwest about 45 minutes after sunset.  Jupiter is to Saturn’s upper left.  The bright moon is near the Pleiades.  Before sunrise, look for Mars low in the southeast.  Venus is becoming visible during bright twilight.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/12/12/2022-january-12-mercury-saturn-near-conjunction/

January 28, 2022:  Within a few minutes, Sirius rises at sunset this evening.  About two hours after sundown, find it in the southeastern sky with the other bright stars of Winter.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/12/11/2022-january-28-sirius-rises-at-sunset/

January 11-14, 2022:  The moon moves from Aries into Taurus.  On January 12, the lunar orb is near the Pleiades.  It is near the Hyades on January 13.  The moon is between the Bull’s horns on the next evening.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/12/10/2022-january-11-14-gored-moon/

January 8, 2022: Venus passes between Earth and the sun – inferior conjunction – today.  Mars continues its slow climb into the morning sky.  Three bright planets – Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury – are in the southwest after sunset.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/12/09/2022-january-8-venus-at-inferior-conjunction/

January 7, 2022:  Mars is visible before sunrise, while Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter – along with the crescent moon – are in the evening sky.  Venus is nearing inferior conjunction and an appearance in the morning sky.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/12/08/2022-january-7-four-bright-planets-venus-nears-inferior-conjunction/

January 6, 2022:  Planet Mercury nears its evening greatest elongation.  It appears in the evening sky, with a crescent moon, Jupiter, and Saturn.  Venus sets soon after sundown.  Mars is in the southeast before sunup.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/12/07/2022-january-6-mercury-nears-greatest-elongation/

January 5, 2022: Jupiter and the crescent are 5.5° in the evening sky.  Look for Mercury and Saturn with the planet-moon duo.  Earlier, Venus is low in the west-southwest.  Before sunrise, Mars is near Antares.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/12/06/2022-january-5-jupiter-evening-moon-morning-mars/

January 4, 2022:  Earth is at perihelion today – it’s closest point to the sun.  Mars is a morning planet, while the evening planet pack – Venus, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter – and the crescent moon are in the southwest after sundown.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/12/05/2022-january-4-earth-at-perihelion/

January 3, 2022:  The moon passes Venus for the final time of this evening appearance of Venus.  As night falls, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter are visible in the southwest.  Mars is in the southeast before sunrise.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/12/04/2022-january-3-venus-moon-conjunction/

December 30, 2021:  As the year ends and the new one opens, the night sky’s brightest star – Sirius – is in the southern sky at the midnight hour.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/12/03/2021-december-30-sirius-at-midnight/