This has been a great week for planet-observing, and it's going to stay good

[elleng]

between now and the end of 2021. Be sure to watch for the moon near Jupiter and Saturn tonight and tomorrow. Sometimes when you're out gazing at the brightest objects in the night sky, you're seeing the planets without knowing it! There are 5 planets you can view without optical aid: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. These are the classical planets that the ancients knew. They watched these planets wander across the sky, unattached to the stars and constellations. The word planet is from an ancient Greek word planete, meaning wanderer.

Planet-observing is easy: Top tips here

https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/planet-observing-top-tips/?

[Wednesdays]

1. Agreed!

Last night I was looking at Venus and thinking I've never seen it brighter.

I've seen all the planets (Uranus and Neptune via my telescope), but Mercury only a couple of times in my life, it's always too close to the horizon.