June 21, 2021:  Jupiter begins retrograde, moving westward compared to the distant stars, today. The Jovian Giant, among the stars of Aquarius, is in the southern sky before sunrise.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/19/2021-june-21-jupiter-retrogrades/

During 2021 into 2022, Venus passes Mars three times for a triple conjunction.  The first occurs on July 12, 2021.  The others occur during early 2022, followed by a close approach of the two planets.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/18/2021-2022-venus-mars-triple-conjunction/

July 6, 2021:  This is the second bright planet – planet opposition this month.  Venus and Saturn are in opposite directions from Earth.  Venus sets about the time that Saturn rises.  After this date, Venus and Saturn together are in the evening sky until early 2022.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/17/2021-july-6-venus-saturn-opposition/

June 19, 2021: The waxing moon appears with Spica in the southwestern sky during the early evening hours.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/16/2021-june-19-evening-sky-moon-spica/

June 26 – June 30, 2021:  The bright gibbous moon passes Jupiter and Saturn in the morning sky before sunrise.  Observe that the moon is in a different spot each morning, farther east toward the impending sunrise.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/15/2021-june-26-june-30-bright-moon-morning-planets/

June 15, 2021:  The moon is with the Sickle of Leo this evening.  Step outside about an hour after sunset to find the crescent moon that is about 30% illuminated over one-third of the way up in the west.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/14/2021-june-15-moon-sickle-of-leo/

July 12, 2021:  Venus – Mars conjunction evening.  Evening Star Venus passes 0.5° to the upper right of the Red Planet.  The crescent moon is nearby. This is the first of three conjunctions of Venus and Mars – a triple conjunction.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/13/2021-july-12-venus-mars-conjunction/

July 1, 2021:  Saturn and Mars are in opposite directions in the sky.  Mars sets as Saturn rises. In about a week, the two planets are visible in the sky at the same time.  This event signals that the planet parade is starting to reorganize. During July, three other planet – planet oppositions occur, leading up to a challenging view of the five bright planets during mid-August.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/12/2021-july-1-saturn-mars-opposition/

June 13, 2021:  After sunset, look for the thin crescent moon near Mars.  The lunar sliver is also to the upper left of the star Pollux.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/11/2021-june-13-moon-passes-mars/

June 11, 2021:  During the early evening brilliant Evening Star Venus and the crescent moon appear together in the west-northwest after sunset.  The pairing is the second closest during this appearance of Venus in the evening sky.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2021/06/10/2021-june-11-venus-moon-conjunction/