Volume 18 -- Issue 11 Planet Watch -- November 2012 Mercury sets shortly after the Sun but this month Mercury as its eastward or prograde part of its orbit comes to an end. Mercury, like the other inner planet, Venus, move in Retrograde (west) motion between eastern elongation, inferior conjunction, and western elongation. last month for Mercury was at eastern elongation. Venus is still dominating the eastern sky before sunrise as it moves across the stars of Virgo the Harvest Maiden passing the bluish star Spica on the morning of the 17th. Venus pairs off with Saturn on the 27th and ends the month mid-way between Saturn and Mercury. Mars sets about 1-2 hours after the Sun sets and this month the setting time for Mars will slowly catch up with the Sun, and by the end of the month Mars may be tto close to the Sun as well as too low to easily see. Jupiter rises a couple of hours after sunset and is visible near the stars of the open cluster, the Hyades, all night, and considering its reletively slow orbital speed Jupiter stays in this sky area all month. Saturn reappears in the morning skies toward the end of the month as it rises before the Sun.