The planets resemble stars except that generally they do not twinkle. They wander amongst the stars so their visibility varies as the relative position of the Earth, Sun and planet vary. Please note that the descriptions below are for viewers in the Northern Hemisphere, especially London and the United Kingdom.
Mercury is too close to the Sun to be seen.
Venus is a brilliant morning object rising about an hour before the Sun in the East. The planet will move away from the Sun and by the end of April will rise an hour and a half before sunrise.
Mars rises in the South East at 01:00 in Ophiuchus (between Scorpio and Sagittarius). At the beginning of the month, Mars will be brighter than all stars apart from Sirius, the brightest. As it approaches the Earth its brightness noticeably increases. By the end of April, the planet will be rising at 23:30 and will rival Sirius in brightness.
The Moon will be very close to Mars on 13th.
For observers in the Northern Hemisphere, Mars appears very low in the sky, rarely climbing above 15 degrees from London. Even though it is a bright, red object it may not be conspicuous.
Jupiter is in Taurus and now sets before midnight. The planet can be seen between the star cluster, Pleiades and the star Aldebaran. It is to the left to the fainter Saturn. Jupiter is brighter than any star and shines with a steady pale yellow light.
Around 21:00 both Jupiter and Saturn will be seen over the Western Horizon to the right of Orion and the brightest star, Sirius. With a small telescope, Jupiter's four large moons are easily seen. By the end of the month the planet will be becoming lost in the evening twilight.
Saturn sets about half an hour before Jupiter. The planet can be found to the right of the much brighter Jupiter. Through a small telescope, Saturn's rings can be seen. The planet will become lost in the evening twilight before the end of the month.
The Moon is Full on 8th and New on 23rd.
The Sun continues moving North, giving noticeably longer days in the Northern Hemisphere.
All times on this page are in GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). Add one hour for British Summer Time.
© 2001 Kryss Katsiavriades
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Jupiter and Saturn in the West at 21:00 on 1 April 2001
Date
Time of Sun Rise
Time of Sun Set
Sun Altitude
at Noon4th
05:28
18:39
44.0° 16th
05:01
18:59
48.5° 28th
04:36
19:20
52.5°
All images by Starry Night ProRelated Pages
The Solar System
Tables with explanations and data about the Sun, Earth, Moon, planets, asteroids and comets.
A table containing a list of the 20 brightest stars and explanations of all the associated terms like magnitude, spectral type and radial velocity.
In astronomy distances and times are confusing because of the large numbers of zeros in the figures. This is an easy-to-understand scaling of the Universe in both space and time. Distances in space are represented by the time light takes to travel there. The chronology of the Universe is compared to a real year.
How humanity came from believing Creation Myths to postulating the Inflationary Big Bang Theory. The key stages in our understanding of our place in the cosmos and the people who broadened our understanding.Links
StarDate Online
An excellent online skywatchers' magazine featuring detailed monthly information about astronomical events.
A day by day account of what to see in the sky each month.
A London based source of astronomical equipment, telescopes, software, maps and books.
Skywatchers' information for North Americans.
Books From Amazon
Click on the ISBN Number to go straight to the book.
COM
Co UK
The Observer's Year covers the observer's sky in 365 or 366 days. Ideal for learning the stars.
In 2001 Yearbook of Astronomy the BBC's Patrick Moore covers the entire year for observers with naked-eye and binoculars. Features planetary positions and eclipses. Also contains various essays.
The Planet Observers Handbook describes how to observe the planets with binoculars and telescope.
Philip's Pocket Star Atlas uses maps to details over 1000 stars and other naked eye celestial objects visible in the sky.
Available
The New Astronomer is a beginner's book defining all the common terms needed by a new astronomer. Lots of diagrams and photos.
Available
Colins Skywatching is another beginner's book with information about the solar system, stars, nebulae and galaxies.
Available
