Astronomical Phenomena 2002:
Visibility of Planets
edited by Michael Fallon
The planets below are referenced to the constellations (astronomical or
sidereal zodiac placements), not to the zodiac signs (tropical zodiac).
Information on Uranus and Neptune assumes the use of a telescope.
MERCURY
Mercury can only be seen low in the east before sunrise, or low in the west
after sunset (about the time of beginning or end of civil twilight). It is
visible in the mornings between the following approximate dates: February 3 to
March 29, June 6 to July 13, and October 5 to October 31. The planet is brighter
at the end of each period; the best conditions in northern latitudes occur from
mid-October, and in southern latitudes from mid-February to mid-March. It is
visible in the evenings between the following approximate dates: January 1 to
January 22, April 16 to May 17, July 29 to September 21, and December 1 to
December 31. The planet is brighter at the beginning of each period; the best
conditions in northern latitudes occur from late April to early May, and in
southern latitudes from mid-August to mid-September.
VENUS
Venus is too close to the Sun for observation until late February when it
appears as a brilliant object in the evening sky. During the last week of
October it again becomes too close to the Sun for observation until the end of
the first week of November when it reappears in the morning sky. Venus is in
conjunction with Saturn on May 7, with Mars on May 10, and with Jupiter on June
3.
MARS
Mars can be seen in the evening sky in Aquarius at the beginning of the year.
It moves into Pisces during the second week of January, into Aries in late
February, Taurus in early April (passing 6?N of Aldebaran on April 29), and
into Gemini from late May. It becomes too close to the Sun for observation
during the second half of June, reappearing in the morning sky from late
September in Leo. It then continues into Virgo in the first week of October
(passing 3?N of Spica on November 20), and into Leo from mid-December. Mars is
in conjunction with Saturn on May 4, Venus on May 10, and Jupiter on July 3.
JUPITER
Jupiter is in opposition on January 1 when it can be seen throughout the
night in Gemini. Its eastward elongation then gradually decreases and from late
March it can be seen only in the evening sky. In early July it becomes too close
to the Sun for observation until early August when it reappears in the morning
sky in Cancer. Its westward elongation gradually increases until by mid-November
it can be seen for more than half the night passing into Leo in the second half
of November and into Cancer from mid-December. Jupiter is in conjunction with
Venus on June 3 and with Mars on July 3.
SATURN
Saturn is in Taurus at the beginning of the year. It can be seen for more
than half the night until late February, after which period it can only be seen
in the evening sky. Its eastward elongation gradually decreases (passing 4?N of
Aldebaran on March 31), and in the second half of May it becomes too close to
the Sun for observation. It reappears in the morning sky in late June and passes
into Orion at the beginning of September and Taurus in the second half of
November. It is at opposition on December 17, when it can be seen throughout the
night. For the remainder of the year its eastward elongation gradually
decreases, and it is visible for the greater part of the night. Saturn is in
conjunction with Mercury on May 4, Venus on May 7, and Mercury on July 2.
URANUS
Uranus is visible in the evening sky in Capricorn for the first three weeks
of January. It then becomes too close to the Sun for observation until the
beginning of the second week of March, when it reappears in the morning sky. It
moves into Aquarius at the end of March and into Capricorn from mid-August. It
is at opposition on August 20, and from mid-November it can only be seen in the
evening sky.
NEPTUNE
Neptune is visible for the first week of January in Capricorn and remains in
the constellation throughout the year. It then becomes too close to the Sun for
observation on August 2, and from early November it can be seen only in the
evening sky.
SPECIAL NOTES:
Do not confuse Mars with Saturn from late April to mid-May when Saturn is the
brighter object, and with Jupiter in the second half of June when Jupiter is the
brighter object.
Do not confuse Venus with Mars in the first half of May and again from late
November to the end of December, and Venus with Saturn in the first half of May
and with Jupiter in the first week of June; on all occasions Venus is the
brighter object.
Do not confuse Mercury with Saturn in late June to early July, and Mercury
with Mars in the first half of October; on both occasions Mercury is the
brighter object.
This article is excerpted from Daily Planetary Guide 2002, ?2001,
edited by Michael Fallon. Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Llewellyn
Worldwide. http://www.llewellyn.com
Info/Order
this book.
About the Author
Resource: Astronomical Phenomena for the Year 2002, prepared by the U.S.
Naval Observatory and the Royal Greenwich Observatory.
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