Mercury can be seen rising before dawn the last week of June in the eastern sky. Mercury reaches its highest point on July 1st. Mercury disappears in the sun’s glare in mid-July. Mercury will reappear in the western sky after sunset the last week of August. 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 (Cancer the Crab) and enters Leo (the Lion) by the end of June. Mars passes Regulus (the Heart of the Lion) on June 30th and passes Saturn on July 11th. Mars stays visible very low in the western sky throughout the summer. Mars looks like a dull, ruddy-colored star.

Saturn can be seen after sunset in the western sky in the constellation Leo (the Lion) left (east) of the bright star Regulus (the Heart of the Lion). Saturn is great to view with the rings on a good angle. Saturn stays low in the west and disappears in the sun’s glare by mid-August. Saturn looks like an amber-colored star.

Jupiter can be seen rising after sunset in the southeastern sky in the constellation of Sagittarius (the Archer) just left (east) of the “teapot”. Jupiter rises when the sun sets on July 9th. Jupiter is very bright and great to view all summer as it passes low through the southern sky. Jupiter sets in the southwest before dawn by mid-July. Jupiter looks like a bright, yellow-colored star.

Venus can’t be seen as it passes behind the sun in June. Venus returns in mid-August as the “Evening Star” and appears very low in the western sky after sunset. Venus looks like a very bright white star.