| Volume 7 Issue 03 | March 2001 | |
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| Planet Watch -- Keeping Track of the Visible Planets | ||
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Mercury is not visible this month from the northern hemisphere, however from the southern hemisphere this elusive planet is at its best viewing this year as it rises before the sun.
Venus very quickly moves from dominating the evening skies to inferior conjunction, between the Earth and the sun. It will reappear west of the sun, in the morning skies later next month. Mars rises at about midnight and is visible over the southeastern horizon at sunrise. On the 14th Mars is within 6 degrees of the reddish star Antares in the Scorpion. Compare the reddish color of Mars to the reddish-colored star Antares. Antares loosely translated means 'rival of Mars', a reference to the similarity in color.
Jupiter is visible at sunset over the western horizon and sets before midnight.
Saturn like its near-twin Jupiter is over the western horizon at sunset and sets about an hour before Jupiter.
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