Venus can be seen after sunset in the southwestern sky moving from the constellation Sagittarius (the Archer) into Capricornus (the Sea Goat). Venus is very bright this month, but doesn’t appear very high in sky. Venus is the “Evening Star” this month. Venus looks like a very bright white star.

Mars can be seen high in the southeastern sky after sunset in the constellation Aries (the Ram). Mars is extremely bright, but is getting smaller and dimmer as it moves farther away from Earth. Mars is good to view as it crosses the southern sky and sets before sunrise. Mars looks like a pumpkin-colored star.

Saturn can be seen rising in the eastern sky around 9:00 in the constellation Cancer (the Crab) near the Beehive cluster. Saturn rises earlier every night, and by the end of the month it rises two hours earlier at 7:00. Saturn brightens a little this month. Saturn is in a good position to view its rings. Saturn passes high through the southern sky and is low in the western sky at dawn. Saturn looks like a bright amber-colored star.

Jupiter can be seen rising well before dawn in the eastern sky in the constellation Libra (the Scales). Jupiter is located southwest of the bright star Spica. By the end of the month, Jupiter will rise about 2 hours earlier, coming up about 3:00. Jupiter can be seen in the southeastern sky before sunrise, which is the best time to view it with a telescope. Jupiter looks like a yellow-colored star.

Mercury appears in the predawn southeastern sky all month moving from the constellation Libra (the Scales) through the constellation Scorpius (the Scorpion). Mercury reaches its highest peak on the 12th, when Mercury can be seen for almost two hours before dawn. Mercury can be located southeast of Jupiter. Mercury looks like a small white star.