When will we have the ability to see the planets at their best during this upcoming yr of 2024? Well, this guide will let you know. It should also provide information as to when a specific planet could be passing near to a different planet, or a shiny star for that matter, in addition to the constellation that every will occupy throughout the course of the yr. Read on to learn more about various circumstances like conjunctions, oppositions and elongations which can be on this upcoming yr’s skywatching schedule.
1. Mercury
As a night star, Mercury appears within the western sky and sets about an hour after the sun does. As a morning star, it appears within the eastern sky, rising about an hour before the sun. There should be a transparent, unobstructed horizon on these occasions. Mercury often appears as a shiny “star” with a yellowish or ochre hue. You may catch sight of the planet within 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 too can catch some Mercury motion within the evenings of March 10 to March 31, July 8 to July 29 and Nov. 2 to Nov. 23.
Mercury shall be brightest and easiest to identify within the evening sky between March 10 to March 31, and brightest and easiest to identify within the morning sky between Jan. 5 to Jan. 26 and again between Dec. 18 to Dec. 31.
2. Venus
All the time good, and shining with a gentle, silvery light, you’ll be able to catch Venus during mornings within the eastern sky at dawn from Jan. 1 to April 8; evenings within the western sky at dusk from July 30 to Dec. 31.
The est time to view Venus within the morning sky in 2024 will come from Jan. 1 to Feb. 11. The best time to view Venus within the evening sky in 2024 will come from Oct. 5 through Dec. 31. On Feb. 22, Venus shall be very near Mars (passing 0.6-degree north of the Red Planet). Venus and Saturn will appear dramatically close to one another (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 within the constellation of Leo, the Lion. On Nov. 22, Venus passes 1.1-degree N of Nunki, a second-magnitude star within the constellation Sagittarius.
3. Mars
This shall be one other “off” yr for Mars, as for much of 2024 it’s going to appear relatively dim while dawdling within the morning sky. Mars will actually be invisible for the primary 10 days of the brand new yr, too deeply immersed in the brilliant dawn twilight to be seen. On Latest Yr’s Day it’s going to reside within the constellation of Sagittarius at a distance of 225.2 million miles (362.4 million kilometers) from the Earth. By April Idiot’s Day, it’s going to be within the constellation of Aquarius and turn into visible low within the southeast for a couple of hours before sunrise, shining at magnitude +1.2. On July 1, it’s going to be visible after midnight within the eastern sky, having brightened barely to magnitude +1.0.
On Halloween, during late night hours, Mars shall be readily seen within the northeast sky, with the “Twin Stars” of Gemini, Castor and Pollux, pointing directly at this yellow-orange planet, now shining at magnitude +0.1.
From then on, through the balance of the yr, Mars will rapidly ramp-up in brightness because it approaches the Earth. It should turn into stationary against the starry background of space on Dec. 6, performing a retrograde loop as a prelude to its first opposition since 2022 on Jan. 16, 2025. On Latest Yr’s Eve, now within the constellation of Cancer, Mars shall be 61.3 million miles (98.6 million km) from Earth and shine at magnitude -1.2, which is only a bit dimmer than Sirius, the brightest star within the night sky; this shall be its brightest in 2024.
Mars will pass 2.7 degrees north of the second magnitude star Nunki within the constellation Sagittarius on Jan. 21 and can get very near Venus (passing 0.6 degrees south of that dazzling world) on February 22. Mars will make even closer approaches to Saturn (0.4-degree N) on April 10 and to Neptune (0.1-degree S) on April 29. The Red Planet will pass 4.9 degrees north of the similarly shiny and orange tinted star Aldebaran on Aug. 4 and slide 0.3-degrees north of Jupiter on Aug. 14.
Finally, early on the morning of Dec. 18, a waning gibbous moon will slide just above Mars. Across northern sections of North America, the moon will actually occult, or eclipse, the planet.
4. Jupiter
Jupiter shall be quite good with a silver-white luster in 2024. It starts the yr within the constellation Aries the Ram, then crosses over into Taurus the Bull on April 28 where it’s going to remain for the balance of the yr.
During evenings from Jan. 1 to April 26, it’ll shine brightly, in addition to during mornings from June 8 to Dec. 6. Evening viewing shall be optimal again from Decc. 7 to December 31.
It’s brightest in 2024 will fall between Nov. 14 to Dec. 28. Jupiter shall be in opposition to the sun on Dec. 7. It should pass 4.8-degrees north of the primary magnitude star Aldebaran on July 9 and shall be only 0.3-degrees south of a much-dimmer Mars on Aug. 14.
5. Saturn
Saturn shines like a yellowish-white “star” of moderate brightness. The famous rings, nonetheless, are only visible in a telescope.
The rings were at their maximum tilt toward Earth in Oct. 2017, but are actually rapidly closing to our line of sight. They’ll turn edge-on to the Earth throughout the spring of 2025. The method will begin in 2024 throughout the boundaries of the constellation Aquarius, the Water Carrier, and the planet will remain there for the remainder of the yr.
You may catch Saturn during evenings from Jan. 1 to Feb. 11, mornings from March 17 to Sept. 7, then evenings again from Sept. 8 to Dec. 31. Saturn’s brightest in 2024 will fall between Aug. 25 to Oct. 1. Saturn shall be in opposition to the sun on Sept. 8. Saturn and Venus will appear dramatically close to one another (with Saturn just 0.2-degree S) on the morning of March 21 and shall be 0.4-degree S of Mars on April 10.
6. Uranus
Uranus will be glimpsed as a naked-eye object by people who find themselves blessed with good eyesight and a transparent, dark sky, in addition to a forehand knowledge of exactly where to search for it.
At its brightest, this planet shines at magnitude +5.6 and will be readily identified with good binoculars. A small telescope may reveal its tiny, greenish disk. Uranus spends all of 2024 within the constellation of Aries the Ram. You may catch sight of it during evenings from Jan. 1 to April 27, mornings from May 31 to Nov. 16, then evenings again from Nov. 17 to Dec. 31. It’s brightest in 2024 will occur from Oct. 15 to Dec. 21. Uranus will arrive at opposition to the sun on Nov. 16.
7. Neptune
Last but not least, Neptune will spends all of 2024 within the constellation of Pisces, the Fishes. At a peak magnitude of +7.8, this bluish-hued world is simply visible with good binoculars or a telescope. It’ll be within the sky for optimal viewing during evenings from Jan. 1 through March 1, mornings from April 3 through Sept. 19, then evenings again from Sept. 20 to Dec. 31.
It’s brightest in 2024 will occur from July 23 to Nov. 19. Opposition is on Sept. 20. Two excellent opportunities to discover Neptune will come first on April 3, when Venus slips 0.3-degree S of Neptune, and again on April 29, when Mars passes a mere 0.1-degree S of Neptune. Have in mind that, in comparison with Neptune, Mars will appear over 500 times brighter and Venus some 58,000 times more dazzling.