SkyandTelescope.com - Astronomy and Stargazing Podcasts

This month you have a chance to spot four planets in the evening sky at once: Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. As a bonus, you might be treated to a spectacular display of meteors on the morning of May 24th.

It's a great month, celestially speaking: the brilliant stars of winter crowd in the southwest at nightfall, Jupiter is joined by Mars, and the first total lunar eclipse in 2½ years occurs at mid-month.

A stunning array awaits you overhead once the Sun sets. Brilliant Sirius, along with Procyon, Betelgeuse, and even-brighter Jupiter, form a giant diamond in the evening sky.

Jupiter is well up in the east as darkness falls, surrounded by a cohort of bright winter stars and constellations.

Start the new year right with a little evening stargazing! Venus is dropping from sight low in the west just as Jupiter and mighty Orion are ascending in the east.

This month is famous for the Perseid meteor shower, which arrives like clockwork on the 12th and 13th. It's also the best time of year to see the beautiful Milky Way arching overhead in early evening.

At dusk, you'll find Venus low in the west, Saturn well up in the south, and a celestial scorpion rising up in the east. Near the Scorpion's stinger is a small star cluster that's observable by eye.

Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury crowd together low in the west, while Saturn is sandwiched high in the south between the constellations Libra and Virgo.

Saturn rises in early evening and is visible throughout May. And a remarkable gathering of Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury sparkles low in the west toward month's end.

Celebrate "Global Astronomy Month" by strolling outside to take in all the evening sky sights. Jupiter and Sirius frame Orion nicely in the west, while Saturn is low in the east an hour or two after sunset.

Spring arrives on March 20th, astronomically speaking, and for a few days beforehand you have a chance to see Comet Pan-STARRS low in the west soon after sunset. Meanwhile, Jupiter is still riding high in the evening, along with Orion, the Hunter, and Sirius, the "Dog Star."

Evening skies feature two bright planets: Mercury, which lurks low in the west after sunset around the 16th, and Jupiter, which reigns high in the southern sky all month long.

Jupiter is the unrivaled king of the evening sky this month. Use it as a benchmark to find a pair of star clusters and other interesting celestial sights.

Mars lurks low in the west after sunset, just as Jupiter rises dramatically in the east. Meanwhile, a mythic tale unfolds among the stars and constellations overhead.

Mars is very low in the west after sunset, and Jupiter rises a couple hours later. But most of the planetary action is in the eastern sky before dawn.