Last evening, on the 24th of the month, the Moon graced the western sky after sunset. I had seen it the evening before even thinner than this. But, I had no camera with me then.
This new moon was below the planets Jupiter and Venus the way it was just one month ago, also on the 24th of the month.
There was a difference this time, however. Last month, Venus was below Jupiter. The two planets have traded positions.
Put yourself above the plane of the solar system and view the locations of Earth, Venus, and Jupiter on February 24. The orbital motions are counter-clockwise around the Sun as viewed from this perspective. I added a white line connecting Earth and Jupiter. Note how Venus is a little below that line.
Advance one month. The planets have advanced some in their orbits. Venus and Earth advanced the most. Jupiter advanced very little. I added a white line again to Jupiter. Note how Venus is a little above that line.
Getting a sense of the motions of the objects in the heavens is relatively easy if you are watching the planets and the Moon over long time intervals. It takes some patience. Getting a sense of the orientation and frame of reference is much harder. It is more difficult to know how our merry-go-round of a solar system is moving. Where is the Sun? Which way is 'up'? Where is the plane of the orbits in the sky? What direction are things orbiting the Sun from our perspective?
These are questions that can be answered best by an astronomy course, good software and diagrams, and animations that simplify the motions. They are beyond the scope of a short diary. But, I hope the orbit diagrams today have helped you see why Jupiter and Venus have traded places during the past month.