SkyEye

The Calendar

The Solar System

The word planet is derived from the Greek word for 'wanderer'. Unlike the background stars, planets seem to move around the sky, keeping mostly to a narrow track called the ecliptic, the path of the Sun across the stars. Dwarf planets and small solar-system bodies, including comets, are not so constrained, often moving far above or below the ecliptic.

Sun Ophiuchus → Sagittarius

Although Ophiuchus is not a member of the zodiac, the ecliptic passes through it.

Mercury Scorpius → Ophiuchus → Sagittarius

At superior conjunction on 8 December, the closest planet to the Sun appears in the evening sky towards the end of the month.

Venus Ophiuchus → Sagittarius

The evening star is still near the western horizon after sunset but it is slowly climbing higher as the month progresses.

Mars Sagittarius → Capricornus

The red planet sets in mid-evening so look for it in the west as darkness falls.

Jupiter Leo

Jupiter rises in the east as Mars prepare to set in the west.

Saturn Libra

At conjunction last month, Saturn emerges from the dawn glow as a morning sky object, rising just ahead of the Sun.

Uranus Pisces

The Moon has it in for Uranus this month, occulting it twice, once on the first of the month and then again on 29 December. This faint planet, the most distant object in the solar system visible to the naked eye, sets around midnight.

Neptune Aquarius

A small telescope is necessary to view the most distant planet in the solar system but you will need to look for it in the early evening as it sets well before midnight.