Mercury can be seen for about two hours after sunset in mid-May in the western sky in the constellation Taurus (the Bull). Mercury can be seen 2° below the Pleiades star cluster. Mercury will be good to view in early May as it brightens and appears at its highest point in the western sky on the 13th. Mercury looks like a small, white star.

Mars can be seen for a few hours after sunset in the western sky as it leaves the constellation of Gemini (the Twins) and moves into Cancer (the Crab) by the 5th. Mars move through the Beehive Cluster near the center of Cancer (the Crab) on the 22nd and 23rd. Mars is very dim as it reaches aphelion, its farthest point from the sun, on May 12th. Mars looks like a dull, ruddy-colored star.

Saturn can be seen at sunset in the southwestern sky in the constellation Leo (the Lion) left (east) of the bright star Regulus (the Heart of the Lion). Saturn is stationary on the 3rd and will begin moving farther away from Regulus. Saturn is very bright this spring and great to view with the rings on a good angle. Saturn looks like an amber-colored star.

Jupiter can be seen rising in the southeastern sky about 2:00 a.m. in the constellation of Sagittarius (the Archer) just east of the “teapot”. Jupiter can be seen rising earlier each night and before midnight by the end of May. Jupiter is stationary on the 9th and then begins retrograde (western) motion. Jupiter brightens as it moves toward opposition in July. Jupiter looks like a bright, yellow-colored star.

Venus can’t be seen as it moves into the sun’s glare. Venus won’t return until midsummer, when it appears in the west after sunset as the “Evening Star.” Venus looks like a very bright white star.