Mercury can be seen for about a half-hour after sunset at the end of April in the west-northwestern sky in the constellation Taurus (the Bull) after reaching superior conjunction on April 16th. Mercury can be seen 4° below the Pleiades star cluster. Mercury will be good to view in May as it brightens and appears higher in the evening sky. Mercury looks like a small, white star.

Mars can be seen at sunset very high in the south-southwestern sky moving through the constellation of Gemini (the Twins). Mars lines up with Castor and Pollux by the end of the month. Mars dims throughout the month. Mars can be seen moving through the southwestern sky and setting in the western horizon well before dawn. Mars looks like a dull, ruddy-colored star.

Saturn can be seen at sunset in the east-southeastern sky in the constellation Leo (the Lion) just to the left (east) of the bright star Regulus (the Heart of the Lion), the tip of the backward questionmark. Saturn is in retrograde motion all of April, and can be seen moving westward toward Regulus all month. Saturn is very bright this spring and great to view with the rings on a good angle. Saturn crosses high through the southern sky and into the western sky before dawn. Saturn sets in the west before sunrise. Saturn looks like an amber-colored star.

Jupiter can be seen rising in the southeastern sky before dawn just northeast (to the left) of the Teapot shape in the constellation of Sagittarius (the Archer). Jupiter can be seen rising a little earlier each night. Jupiteri brightens a little throughout the month as it moves toward opposition in July. Jupiter looks like a bright, yellow-colored star.

Venus can be seen for a half hour or less in the eastern sky before dawn at the beginning of the month, and disappears in the sun’s glare by midmonth. Venus will not return to our view until midsummer, when it will appear in the western sky after sunset as the “Evening Star.” Venus looks like a very bright white star.