Volume 19 -- Issue 01 Planet Watch -- January 2013 Mercury is not visible this month as it reaches superior conjunction on the 18th. Watch for Mercury to reappear in the evening skies next month. Venus is setting earlier each morning and by around the end of the month, or early next month Venus will start becoming to close to the Sun to be easily.    This animated graphic shows the morning line up of two planets and two bright stars along the ecliptic. It is set for mid-month at 7:15 a.m. CST. Click on the graphic to see it full-size. Mars sets about 1 hour after the Sun sets and is low over the southwestern horizon. Jupiter was at opposition last month and is up all night as it rises around sunset local time and is well above the eastern horizon and shining brightly with the reddish star Aldebaran nearby, and the stars of the open cluster, the Hyades. Saturn is visible in the morning skies as Saturn rises about 2-3 hours before the Sun rises and is easily noticed over the southeastern horizon, with the star Spica about 15 degrees to the west from Saturn.