Volume 18 -- Issue 4 Planet Watch -- April 2012 Mercury moves out from inferior conjunction and becomes somewhat visible low over the eastern horizon at sunrise. Better viewing for Mercury this month favors the southern hemisphere. Venus continues to shine brightly over the western horizon at sunset. This animated graphic shows Venus, as seen through 7x35 binoculars, from the the 1st to the 5th of the month as Venus passes the Pleiades open star cluster. Closest is on the evening of the 3rd. Mars rises after sunset and is visible all night near the star Regulus in Leo. Retrograde motion ends this month and for those with a keen eye it is starting to become dimmer as the distance between the Earth and Mars increases. The 'red planet' ends its retrograde motion this month. Click here to see a table showing the coordinate positions and distance from Earth during the retrograde motion period. Jupiter is low over the western horizon at sunset, setting earlier each day as the Sun, in its apparent eastward motion catches up with Jupiter. By mid-month Jupiter is lost in the sun's glare. Watch for the giant planet to reappear on the other side of the Sun, in the pre-dawn skies sometime in June. Saturn will be be visible all night, near the bright blue-white star Spica in Virgo. Saturn reaches opposition on the 15th. Click here to see a graphic set for mid-month showing the solar system as seen from an overhead perspective.