I have in the past, like many of you, observed Venus in the daytime. It is certainly bright enough to shine through the twilight, and even the bright blue sky of day, if you know where to look. On one occasion, during the great Mars opposition of 2003, I followed the planet from darkness through dawn and after sunrise in my telescope. Mars showed excellent detail through the scope, even after the sun had come up.

This morning, Jupiter is 10 degrees from the Moon, and at this time of day (9:00am) it appears almost directly below the Moon. I though I would try to spot it with my binoculars, thinking that I could use the Moon as a guide. Starting at the Moon, I lowered my binoculars down, sweeping vertically, hoping to spot Jupiter. On the fourth attempt I was successful. It was very difficult to spot, but once I saw it, it stood out clearly, showing a pale white against the blue sky. Through the binoculars I could clearly make out the small disk of the planet. At this time, the Sun was a full 30 degrees above the horizon!

It’s an odd, but interesting observation. Try the unusual, and look for a daytime pairing like this. One will happen again the next time the Moon slides past Jupiter (July 31st, 7 degrees separation), or try to spot Venus in the daytime. Remember, when observing during the day, always be very careful to not look anywhere near the Sun.