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In the west, Jupiter hangs low on the horizon. Around mid-month, the planet disappears into the sunset

Venus blazes just above Jupiter in the west. Use a telescope to see its crescent phase.

In the south, Mars is already climbing high. It will remain visible into the early morning

Saturn will shine low in the east in the evening but climb higher during the night. On April 15th, Saturn reaches opposition, meaning it is opposite the Sun in Earth’s sky. It is also closer to Earth than it’ll be the rest of the year, making it appear slightly bigger and brighter

Constellations and Deep-Sky Objects

y in the dawn; look southeast

s just 4° or 5° from lesser Spica to its lower right.

highest in the south around 4 a.m., with Spica now under Mars.

the eastern sky in early evening

. It crosses nearly overhead (for mid-northern observers) around 9 or 10 p.m

) rises around 1 or 2 a.m. and is high in the south at dawn

Regulus in Leo to the Moon's left during evening.

"Morning Star" in the dawn; look southeast

) rises around 10 or 11 p.m. now

5° to the right of

It crosses nearly overhead (for mid-northern observers) around 9 p.m.

rises around 1 a.m. and is highest in the south at dawn.

by 28°

Wednesday, February 19

Go out after 11 tonight, and low in the east-southeast, where the Moon has just risen or is about to rise, you'll find bright, fiery Mars with Spica to its right.

Thursday, February 20 As dawn breaks Friday morning the 21st, spot the waning Moon in the south with Saturn to its left. Off to their right are Mars and Spica (out of the frame above).

before and during dawn; look southeast. It's at its brightest this week.

rises around 10 p.m. now, a fiery blaze 5° or 6° to the right of icy Spica. The two of them are highest in the south around 3 or 4 a.m., with Spica now to Mars's lower right

Jupiter

high southeast in early evening. It crosses nearly overhead (for skywatchers at mid-northern latitudes) around 8 or 9 p.m.

Saturn

rises around midnight or 1 a.m. and is highest in the south at the beginning of dawn. By then it's far to the left of Mars and Spica,

Venus

rises around 10 p.m

6° to the left of icy Spica. The two of them are highest in the south around 3 or 4 a.m., with Spica now lower right of Mar

Jupiter

e high south during evening

Thursday, March 13

left of the Moon this evening for Regulus. It's the bottom star in the handle of the Sickle of Leo.

Venus

"Morning Star" before and during dawn; look southeast.

rises around 9 p.m

Mars (

Spica 5° or 6° to its right

highest in the south around 2 a.m., with Spica now lower right of Mars

Jupiter

overhead during evening

Saturn

rises around 11 p.m. and is highest in the south before dawn

Mars shines in

coming up around 10 p.m. local time at the month’s end. It is near Spica

about two hours before dawn late in the month

Saturn is

close to local midnight by the end of the month. Saturn climbs to its highest point in the sky at dawn.

Venus

Venus

Mars reaches its highest point for the night

4 a.m. local Daylight Time in early March and 2 a.m. local Daylight Time in late march

in the east-southeast around 1 a.m. local Daylight Saving Time in early March, and roughly 11 p.m. local Daylight Time by the end of the month.

highest point in the sky shortly before morning dawn

June solstice

the Sun reaches its northernmost point in the sky for the year and begins its six-month return south

Summer begins in the Northern Hemisphere, where today is the longest day. In the Southern Hemisphere, this is the start of winter and the longest night

Mercury

lost in the glow of sunset

Venus

low in the east during dawn

Mars (

high in the south-southwest in twilight, with Spica to its left

sets in the west around 1 or 2 a.m. daylight saving time.

Jupiter

low in the west-northwest in twilight and sets around nightfall

Saturn

southeast to south during evening

Vega is the brightest star shining in the east after dusk. It's currently the top star of the big Summer Triangle. The brightest star to Vega's lower left is Deneb. Look farther to Vega's lower right for Altair. The Summer Triangle will climb higher in early evening all through the summer, to pose highest overhead at dusk when fall begins

Venus

low in the east during dawn.

Mars (

high in the south-southwest in late twilight

Mars sets in the west around 2 a.m. daylight saving time

Jupiter

low in the west-northwest in twilight and sets around nightfall

southeast to south during evening

Saturn (

Friday, May 30

very low in the west-northwest in twilight for the hairline crescent Moon with Mercury to its right. They're far to the lower right of bright Jupiter

Saturday, May 31

The Moon, Jupiter, and Pollux above them form a nearly straight line in twilight as seen from North America

Mercury

highest evening apparition of 2014 for skywatchers at mid-northern latitudes,

fades this week

twilight deepens, look for it in the west-northwest to the lower right of bright Jupiter

Venus

"Morning Star" low due east during dawn

Mars (

ighest in the south in late twilight

Mars sets in the west around 3 or 4 a.m. daylight saving time

Jupiter

in the west in twilight

sinks during the evening and sets around 11 or midnight.

Jupiter is on the far side of the Sun from us

nearly its minimum apparent size.

Saturn

is two weeks past 10th opposition.

in the southeast during evening and stands highest in the south around 11 or midnight.

Full Moon tonight and Saturday night

Mercury

low in the glow of sunrise to the lower left of Venus

Venus

low in the east during dawn

Mars (

high in the southwest at dusk with Spica, a little fainter, closing in on it each day

Jupiter is lost in the sunset

Saturn

Saturn

highest in the south in late twilight