This is an extraordinary series of alignments, one that is thrilling to observe every night. I haven't seen Mercury yet -- and may not thanks to obstructions near the horizon in my area -- but the other planets and the Moon have been spectacular, a joy to witness. And we don't even have particularly dark skies -- which makes it all the more impressive.

Mars is nearly identical in brightness to Aldebaran -- quite a change from last year! Saturn is definitely yellowish overhead, and Jupiter in the east (about half as bright as Venus it seems) is distinctly gray. Venus is ridiculously bright, and as it and the lunar crescent engage in a celestial dance, I think I can just barely make out a tiny Venusian crescent with my naked eye. All of these planets and the Moon come in to view just after sunset, and part of the enjoyment is in trying to spot them earlier and earlier.

All that and Mars orbiters and landers, too!

Ha!

It's great!

Cheers, BRFelix