Which Planets Can You See Tonight? (2024)

FAQs

Which planet is going to be visible? ›

The first step to identifying planets is to know which planets are possible to see without a telescope. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are the five brightest planets in our night sky and, therefore, observable by most people.

You can see all 5 bright planets in the evening sky now (December 2022). Mercury and Venus are nearest the sunset.

Venus can often be seen within a few hours after sunset or before sunrise as the brightest object in the sky (other than the moon). It looks like a very bright star. Venus is the brightest planet in the Solar System.

See Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky

Spot Sirius in Canis Major the Greater Dog - the brightest star as seen from Earth.

You may have seen a bright object next to the moon which is not a star but is in fact the planet Venus.

Jupiter appears as a bright, white disk to the naked eye. The planet's surface is covered in bands of clouds, which can be seen under very dark skies. Jupiter's Great Red Spot, a massive storm that has been raging for centuries, is also visible under very dark skies.

Jupiter is currently in the constellation of Aries. The current Right Ascension is 03h 22m 40s and the Declination is +17° 44' 48”.

Jupiter is visible all year long, but it is best viewed when it is in opposition. Opposition occurs when Jupiter is on the opposite side of the sun from Earth. During opposition, Jupiter is at its closest to Earth and appears at its brightest.

What is a conjunction in astronomy? In astronomy, a conjunction occurs when any two astronomical objects (such as asteroids, moons, planets, and stars) appear to be close together in the sky, as observed from Earth.

What planets can you see from Earth without a telescope? ›

Planets – Five planets in our solar system are easily observed without a telescope: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.

Mars is currently in the constellation of Pisces. The current Right Ascension is 23h 51m 23s and the Declination is -02° 18' 48”.

The five brightest planets are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. So long as you know when and where to look you can spot all five of these spectacular planets, just as people have enjoyed doing since ancient times.

Venus is bright (it has a high albedo) because it's blanketed by highly reflective clouds. The clouds in the atmosphere of Venus contain droplets of sulfuric acid, as well as acidic crystals suspended in a mixture of gases. Light bounces easily off the smooth surfaces of these spheres and crystals.

All you need is a clear night sky, your eyes and, if you would like more detail, binoculars or a telescope. Jupiter is one of the brightest objects in the night sky.

A recently submitted study to The Astronomical Journal continues to search for the elusive Planet Nine (also called Planet X), which is a hypothetical planet that potentially orbits in the outer reaches of the solar system and well beyond the orbit of the dwarf planet, Pluto.

The next planet parade is on April 20, 2024, when five planets – Venus, Mercury, Neptune, Mars, and Saturn – will align in the sky. Learn about planetary alignments and how to observe them with our colorful infographic.

In fact, Saturn remains visible until February 2024, so don't worry if your local weather doesn't cooperate with your viewing plans on any particular day. Saturn is the farthest planet from Earth easily visible by the unaided human eye.

Jupiter appears low in the west shortly after sunset in the first three weeks of April. During the month's final week, it lies too low in the bright evening twilight to be easily seen. At the beginning of the month, Jupiter sets about three hours after sunset.