- Planétarium
Here's a look at the planets that will be observable with the naked eye in the coming days. Follow these guidelines to find out where and when to look for them.
From February 5 to 19, 2024
Mercury is too close to the Sun and not visible presently. The tiny planet will pass behind the Sun (superior conjunction) on February 28 and will emerge in the evening sky, where it will make a fine apparition after sunset between March 8 and April 6.
Venus is the dazzling Morning Star that emerges above the east-southeast horizon about one hour before sunrise. At the start of civil dawn, Venus shines brightly about 6 degrees high in the southeast. On the morning of February 7, 30 minutes before sunrise, look for the very thin waning crescent Moon 7 degrees to the lower right of the Morning Star; Mars is also visible, but much fainter, 7 degrees to the lower left of Venus.
Mars is emerging from behind the Sun and gradually reappears in the morning sky. Use binoculars to locate the faint Red Planet, very low in the southeast at dawn, 30 minutes before sunrise; dazzling Venus shines brightly to its upper right. On the morning of February 7, the very thin waning crescent Moon hangs 7 degrees to the lower right of the Morning Star and completes a flattened triangle with the two planets.
Jupiter shines like a beacon in the sky during the evening and first half of the night. The bright (magnitude –2.3) Giant Planet appears at dusk more than 50 degrees high in the south-southwest, and disappears in the west-northwest around 11:30 p.m. During the evening of February 14, the waxing crescent Moon approaches to 3 ½ degrees of Jupiter.
Saturn appears closer and closer to the glare of the Sun and vanishes completely after mid-February. Until then, look for the Ringed Planet at dusk, very low in the west-southwest horizon, about 20 minutes after sunset; the planet sets shortly afterwards. Saturn will pass behind the Sun (conjunction) on February 28. At dusk on February 10, 30 minutes after sunset, try to locate the very thin, waxing crescent Moon 3 ½ degrees below the Ringed Planet, very low on the west-southwest horizon. Binoculars will help.