Winter 2009 | Spring 2009 | Summer 2009 | Autumn 2009

As the Earth and its celestial neighbours travel around the Sun, the other planets become visible in different areas of the night sky. The following tables offer a general "time and place" to find the planets which can be seen with the naked eye (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn). For a more detailed location, specific to the day of year, use the sky maps provided at Sky and Telescope. These positions and timeframes are applicable to Canadian skies.

All of the planets, except for Pluto, travel in orbits which are more-or-less within the plane of the solar system. For example, if the solar system was a pie plate with the Sun at the centre, all the planets move around the Sun right on the surface of the pie plate - not off into the air. (Pluto's orbit is tilted so that it goes above and below the pie plate at times.) Being in one plane causes all the planets to look as though they're traveling on a line through the sky. This line, which passes through the constellations of the zodiac, is called the ecliptic.

Be sure to also visit the links at the bottom of this page for more information on observing. Clear skies!

January 2009

Mercury: Southwest at dusk
Venus: Southwest at dusk
Mars: Not visible
Jupiter: Found in the constellation Capricorn
Saturn: Found in the constellation Leo

February 2009

Mercury: Not visible
Venus: Western skies at dusk
Mars: Eastern skies at dawn
Jupiter: Not visible
Saturn: Found in the constellation Leo

March 2009

Mercury: Not visible
Venus: Not visible
Mars: Found in the constellation Aquarius, in the morning sky
Jupiter: Found in the constellation Capricorn
Saturn: Found in the constellation Leo

April 2009

Mercury: Western skies at dusk (after mid-April)
Venus: Eastern skies at dawn
Mars: Found in the constellation Aquarius
Jupiter: Found in the constellation Capricorn
Saturn: Found in the constellation Leo

May 2009

Mercury: Western skies at dusk (until mid-May)
Venus: East-northeast at dawn
Mars: Found in the constellation Cetus (early May) and Pisces (late May)
Jupiter: Found in the constellation Capricorn
Saturn: Found in the constellation Leo

June 2009

Mercury: Eastern skies at dawn
Venus: East-northeast at dawn
Mars: Found in the constellation Aries
Jupiter: Found in the constellation Capricorn
Saturn: Found in the constellation Leo

July 2009

Mercury: Not visible
Venus: East-northeast at dawn
Mars: Found in the constellation Aries
Jupiter: Found in the constellation Capricorn
Saturn: Found in the constellation Leo

August 2009

Mercury: Not visible
Venus: East-northeast at dawn
Mars: Found in the constellation Taurus (early August) and Virgo (late August)
Jupiter: Found in the constellation Capricorn
Saturn: Not visible

September 2009

Mercury: Not visible
Venus: Eastern skies at dawn
Mars: Found in the constellation Gemini
Jupiter: Found in the constellation Capricorn
Saturn: Not visible

October 2009

Mercury: East at dawn
Venus: Eastern skies at dawn
Mars: Found in the constellation Gemini
Jupiter: Found in the constellation Capricorn
Saturn: Found in the constellation Leo

November 2009

Mercury: Not visible
Venus: Not visible
Mars: Found in the constellation Cancer
Jupiter: Found in the constellation Capricorn
Saturn: Found in the constellation Leo

December 2009

Mercury: West at dusk
Venus: Not visible
Mars: Found in the constellation Cancer
Jupiter: Found in the constellation Capricorn
Saturn: Found in the constellation Leo

Related Links:

• Family astronomy activities
• Get started in observing
• Astronomy camping activities
• Tour the universe
• Tour of the Night Sky

with files from the Observer's Handbook ( RASC)
compiled by the CASCA education Webteam, (2009)