Venus can be seen in the western sky disappearing in the sun’s glare after the first week of January. It returns to the predawn eastern sky by midmonth. Venus shines brightly as the “Morning Star” during the first half of this year. Venus looks like a very bright white star.

Mars can be seen high in the southern sky at sunset moving in the constellation Aries (the Ram) toward the Pleiades star cluster in Taurus (the Bull). Mars is moving farther away from Earth so it appears to move faster through the background of stars. Mars grows dimmer every night and its color appears more orange (more yellow if there are sandstorms occurring on its surface). Mars sets in the west after midnight.

Saturn can be seen rising in the northeastern sky right after sunset in the constellation Cancer (the Crab) near the Beehive cluster. Saturn reaches opposition (opposite the sun in our sky) on January 27th, when it will rise in the east as the sun sets in the west. Saturn’s rings are good to view when it passes overhead at midnight. Saturn sets in the west as the sun rises in the east at dawn. Saturn looks like a bright golden-colored star.

Jupiter can be seen rising about 3:00 a.m. in the eastern sky in the constellation Libra (the Scales). Jupiter is bright and rises earlier each night. Jupiter can be seen high in the southern sky before sunrise, when it’s in the best viewing position. Jupiter looks like a yellow-colored star.

Mercury can be seen in the predawn eastern sky early in January passing through the constellation Sagittarius (the Archer). It disappears into the sun’s glare early in January and cannot be seen as it moves behind the sun on the 26th. Mercury will return to the western evening sky in February. Mercury looks like a small white star.