Volume 14 Issue 1	January 2008

Planet Watch -- Keeping Track of the Visible Planets

Mercury starts the new year with a good evening appearance as it works its way toward eastern elongation on the 22nd. Also on that date Mercury comes within less then one-half degrees from Neptune as this image set for 5:30 p.m. CST shows. Venus shines brightly over the eastern horizon about two hours before sunrise. Each morning Venus is a bit lower as it moves east toward the Sun, and along the way Venus will pass by some of the deep sky objects in Sagittarius, and approach Jupiter for a stunning conjunction on the 1st of February. Mars rises around sunset and is up most of the night. Shining brightly near the stars of the constellation Auriga the Charioteer, Mars is moving west in retrograde toward the Star Elnath. However the retrograde motion for Mars ends January 30th when Mars will resume its eastward, or direct motion. Jupiter reappears in the morning skies this month and by month's end is well placed for viewing over the southeastern horizon before the Sun rises. Watch for a very close conjunction with Venus on February 1st. Saturn continues its retrograde motion moving westward toward Regulus in Leo the Lion. During this month Saturn passes within 2 degrees of 3 galaxies, M-95, M-96, and M-105. These three galaxies are all at least 10th magnitude so it will require a telescope to view this rather then standard binoculars.

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