Content

• Steps
• Advice

The night sky is an ever-changing display of objects. You can see the stars, constellations, moons, meteors, and sometimes the planets. The five planets including Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are visible to the naked eye because of their luminosity. These planets appear most of the year; however, there are short periods of time that you won't see because they are too close to the sun. You cannot see all of these planets in the same night. The relative positions of the planets will change each month, but there are several ways to observe the planets in the sky at night.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Know what to look for

1. 

   
   
   Distinguish stars and planets. Planets are often much brighter than stars. They are closer to the earth, so you'll see they look more like a plate than a little dot.

2. 

   Find bright planets. Even in the observable phase, some planets may be harder to detect if they are not among the bright ones. Jupiter and Saturn have always been the most visible planets.

3. 

   
   
   Know what color to look for. Each planet has a different way of reflecting sunlight. You need to know what colors to look for in the night sky.
   • Mercury: This planet flashes in bright yellow.
   • Venus: Venus is often mistaken for unidentified flying objects, because the planet is large and silver in color.
   • Mars: This planet is reddish in color.
   • Jupiter: Jupiter shines brightly with white light all night long. This planet is the second brightest spot in the night sky
   • Saturn: Saturn is a smaller, yellowish-white planet.
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Part 2 of 3: Observing the correct position

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   Learn how light affects the sky. The stars and planets in the night sky will be easier to see if you're in the countryside. In the city, it will be much harder to see due to the light pollution. You should try to find a place away from the light shining from the buildings.

2. 

   Observe the correct position in the sky. Planets are seldom close together in the night sky, and it's important to know where to look for them. A great way to find planets is to locate them in a constellation.
   • Mercury: You will see Mercury near the sun. For most of the year Mercury appears to disappear under the glare of the sun, but it will appear in mid-August.
   • Mars: looking up into the morning sky at low altitude, Mars moves east.
   • Jupiter: Jupiter is always very far from the sun.
   • Saturn: Observe the low-altitude constellation Libra to find the brightest planet.

3. 

   Consider your position on earth. Planets have their own observation phase, but this time may be earlier in the eastern hemisphere and later in the western hemisphere. When relying on the planetary observations, remember to take into account your position on earth. advertisement

Part 3 of 3: Observing the right moment

1. 

   Learn the observation phase of the planets. The observation phase is the time period in which the planets are visible. This period can last from a few weeks to almost two years. You can look up the information in the astronomy directories to see when these planets appear.

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   Know what time to observe. Most of the planets are best seen when the sky turns dark (sunset) or dawn (dawn). However, you can still see them in the night sky. You need to observe very late, when the sky becomes dark.

3. 

   Know when to see the planets every night. Combine the observation phases of the planets with the time they are most visible to determine the best time to see the planet you are looking for.
   • Mercury: You can see this planet many times a year. This year you can still see Mercury in September and December.
   • Mars: Mars appears in the sky early in the morning. From August, Mars begins to move high in the sky and continues to appear throughout the year. Mars will be brighter when it gets higher.
   • Jupiter: At dawn is the best time to observe Jupiter. This planet will appear in mid-September 2015, and in a few months you can continue to observe Jupiter within the constellation of the Lion constellation.
   • Saturn: Observe the dusk at dusk in search of Saturn. Saturn will appear in the night sky in October, and you can see it in the morning sky at the end of the year.
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Advice

• Prepare before observing. If it's not the summer months, dress warmly.
• Keep away from light polluted areas. The countryside is the best place to observe the night sky.