Volume 17 -- Issue 1 Planet Watch -- January 2011 Mercury shines not as brightly as Venus, but is also located over the southeastern horizon at sunrise. Like Venus Mercury will also be reaching its greatest western elongation this month, on the 9th, and will then begin moving eastward toward the Sun and superior conjunction next month. Venus shines very brightly over the southeastern horizon at sunrise this month. On the 8th Venus reaches its greatest western elongation and from this point will start moving eastward toward the Sun and superior conjunction this summer. Mars is too close to the Sun to be observed as it is approaching solar conjunction early next month. Watch for Mars to re-appear in the morning skies later this spring. Jupiter is over the southwestern horizon at sunset and sets a few hours later. Jupiter is within 1-2 degrees from the planet Uranus and with a wide-field eyepiece in a telescope, or binoculars held steadily, the 7th planet in our solar system may be seen. Jupiter shines brightly at around a magnitude of -2 or so, while the more distant planet Uranus 'shines' at about magnitude 6 putting it right at the threshhold for naked eye viewing under dark skies. Saturn is visible over the southwestern horizon at sunrise. With a telescope the tops or north side of the rings will be visible as they are tilted about 10 degrees toward us.