When will we be able to see the planets at their best during this upcoming year of 2024? Well, this guide will tell you. It will also provide information as to when a particular planet might be passing near to another planet, or a bright star for that matter, as well as the constellation that each will occupy during the course of the year. Read on to learn more about various circumstances like conjunctions, oppositions and elongations that are on this upcoming year’s skywatching schedule.
1. Mercury
As an evening star, Mercury appears in the western sky and sets about an hour after the sun does. As a morning star, it appears in the eastern sky, rising about an hour before the sun. There must be a clear, unobstructed horizon on these occasions. Mercury usually appears as a bright “star” with a yellowish or ochre hue. You can catch sight of the planet in the mornings of Jan. 5 to Jan. 26, May 2 to May 23, Aug. 30 to Sept. 19 and Dec. 18 to Dec. 31. You can also catch some Mercury action in the evenings of March 10 to March 31, July 8 to July 29 and Nov. 2 to Nov. 23.
Mercury will be brightest and easiest to spot in the evening sky between March 10 to March 31, and brightest and easiest to spot in the morning sky between Jan. 5 to Jan. 26 and again between Dec. 18 to Dec. 31.
2. Venus
Always brilliant, and shining with a steady, silvery light, you can catch Venus during mornings in the eastern sky at dawn from Jan. 1 to April 8; evenings in the western sky at dusk from July 30 to Dec. 31.
The est time to view Venus in the morning sky in 2024 will come from Jan. 1 to Feb. 11. The best time to view Venus in the evening sky in 2024 will come from Oct. 5 through Dec. 31. On Feb. 22, Venus will be very close to Mars (passing 0.6-degree north of the Red Planet). Venus and Saturn will appear dramatically close to each other (Venus just 0.2-degree N) on the morning of March 21.
On April 3, Venus will slide just 0.3 degrees S of Neptune. On Aug. 5, Venus will pass 1.1-degree N of a bluish Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation of Leo, the Lion. On Nov. 22, Venus passes 1.1-degree N of Nunki, a second-magnitude star in the constellation Sagittarius.
3. Mars
This will be another “off” year for…
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