When can we see the planets at their best in the coming year of 2024? Well, this guide will tell you. It will also provide information about when a particular planet might pass near another planet, or a bright star, as well as the constellation each planet will inhabit during the year. Read on to learn about various conditions, such as conjunctions, oppositions, and elongations, that are on the skywatching schedule this coming year.
As an evening star, Mercury appears in the western sky and sets about an hour later the sun do. Like a Morning star, it appears in the eastern sky and rises about an hour before the sun. On these occasions there must be a clear, unobstructed horizon. Mercury usually appears as a bright "star" with a yellowish or ocher hue. You can see the planet in the mornings of January 5 to January 26, May 2 to May 23, August 30 to September 19, and December 18 to December 31. You can also see some Mercury action in the evenings of March 10 to March 31, July 8 to July 29, and November 2 to November 23.
Mercury will be brightest and easiest to spot in the evening sky between March 10 and March 31, and brightest and easiest to spot in the morning sky between January 5 and January 26 and again between December 18 and December 31.
Always brilliant and radiant with a steady, silvery light that you can capture Venus during mornings in the eastern sky at sunrise from January 1 to April 8; evenings in the western sky at dusk from July 30 to December 31.
The Estimated time to see Venus in the morning sky in 2024 comes from January 1 to February 11. The best time to view Venus in the evening sky in 2024 occurs from October 5 to December 31. On February 22, Venus will be very close Mars (passes 0.6 degrees north of the Red Planet). Venus and Saturn will appear dramatically close together (Venus just 0.2 degrees N) on the morning of March 21.
On April 3, Venus will shift just 0.3 degrees south of Earth Neptune. On August 5, Venus will pass 1.1 degrees N of a bluish Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo, the Lion. On November 22, Venus will pass 1.1 degrees N of Nunki, a second-magnitude star in the constellation Sagittarius.
This will be another "off" year for Mars, as it will appear relatively dim for much of 2024 as it lingers in the morning sky. Mars will be effectively invisible for the first ten days of the new year, too immersed in the bright dawn twilight to be seen. On New Year's Day it will reside in the constellation of Sagittarius, at a distance of 362.4 million kilometers from the starry sky. Soil. By April 1, it will be in the constellation Aquarius and will become visible low in the southeast a few hours before sunrise, shining in size +1.2. On July 1, it will be visible in the eastern sky after midnight, after brightening slightly to magnitude +1.0.
On Halloween, during the late night hours, Mars will be easily visible in the northeastern sky, with the 'Twin stars' of Gemini, Castor And Pollux pointing directly at this yellow-orange planet, which now shines at magnitude +0.1.
From then on, for the rest of the year, Mars will rapidly increase in brightness as it approaches Earth. It will become stationary against the starry background of room on December 6, with a retrograde loop prelude to its first opposition since 2022 on January 16, 2025. On New Year's Eve, now in the constellation Cancer, Mars will be 61.3 million miles (98.6 million km) from Earth and shine at magnitude -1.2, which is slightly fainter than Siriusthe brightest star in the night sky; this will be its brightest in 2024.
Mars will pass 2.7 degrees north of the second-magnitude star Nunki in the constellation Sagittarius on January 21 and come very close to Venus (0.6 degrees south of that dazzling world) on February 22. Mars will approach Saturn even closer (0.4 degrees N) on April 10 and to Neptune (0.1 degrees S) on April 29. The Red Planet will pass 4.9 degrees north of the also bright and orange-tinted star Aldebaran on August 4 and will slide 0.3 degrees north of Jupiter on August 14.
Finally, early on the morning of December 18, a waning moon passes just above Mars. In the northern parts of North America, the moon will actually occult or darken the planet.
Jupiter in 2024 will be quite brilliant with a silvery white sheen. It starts the year in the zodiac sign Ram the Ram, and then crosses to Taurus the Bull on April 28, where it will remain for the rest of the year.
It shines brightly during the evenings from January 1 to April 26, as well as during the mornings from June 8 to December 6. From Decc onwards the evening view is optimal again. December 7 to 31.
Are The brightest in 2024 will be in between November 14 to December 28. Jupiter will be in opposition to the Sun on December 7. On July 9, it will pass 4.8 degrees north of the first magnitude star Aldebaran and just 0.3 degrees south of a much fainter star. March on August 14.
Saturn shines as a yellowish-white "star" of moderate brightness. However, the famous rings are only visible in a telescope.
The rings were at their maximum tilt toward Earth in October 2017, but are now rapidly approaching our line of sight. They will aim for Earth in the spring of 2025. The process will begin in 2024 within the constellation of Aquarius, the Water Bearer, and the planet will remain there for the rest of the year.
You can see Saturn in the evening from January 1 to February 11, in the morning from March 17 to September 7, and then again in the evening from September 8 to December 31. Saturn's brightest in 2024 will fall between August 25 and October 1. Saturn will be in opposition to the Sun on September 8. Saturn and Venus will appear dramatically close together (with Saturn just 0.2 degrees S) on the morning of March 21 and will be 0.4 degrees S of Mars on April 10.
Uranus can be seen with the naked eye by people who are blessed with good eyesight and clear, dark skies, and also know exactly what to look for.
At its brightest, this planet shines at a magnitude of +5.6 and can be easily identified with good binoculars. A small telescope can reveal its small, greenish disk. Uranus spends the entire year 2024 in the zodiac sign Aries the Aries. You can watch it in the evening from January 1 to April 27, in the morning from May 31 to November 16, and then again in the evening from November 17 to December 31. It is brightest in 2024 will take place from October 15 to December 21. Uranus will come into opposition to the Sun on November 16.
Last but not least, Neptune will spend the entire year of 2024 in the constellation Pisces, the Pisces. With a peak magnitude of +7.8, this bluish world is only visible with good binoculars or a telescope. It can be seen in the evening from January 1 to March 1, in the morning from April 3 to September 19, and then again in the evening from September 20 to December 31.
It is brightest in 2024 will take place from July 23 to November 19. The opposition is on September 20. Two excellent opportunities to identify Neptune will occur first on April 3, when Venus passes 0.3 degrees S of Neptune, and again on April 29, when Mars passes a point. only 0.1 degree S of Neptune. Keep in mind that compared to Neptune, Mars will appear over 500 times brighter and Venus will appear about 58,000 times more dazzling.