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 Taurus → Gemini

Mercury Gemini → Orion → Taurus

Early June is a good time for northern latitude observers to catch a glimpse of Mercury in the west after sunset. It doesn't rise so high above the horizon from southern latitudes but this elusive planet will disappear from view for everyone by mid-month as it undergoes inferior conjunction on 19 June.

Venus Aries → Taurus

Still best viewed from the southern hemisphere, the morning star is beginning to sink slightly towards the eastern horizon before sunrise. However, Venus appears to gain altitude during the month when viewed from northern latitudes.

Mars Virgo

Mars is well-placed for viewing in the early evening hours. It sets around midnight by the end of the month.

Jupiter Gemini

The largest planet of the solar system draws ever closer to the Sun as the month progresses. Look for this bright object in the west.

Saturn Libra

Saturn is even easier to observe than Mars, setting some 90 minutes after the red planet. The Moon occults the ringed planet on 10 June.

Uranus Pisces

This green-coloured ice giant is now well away from the Sun and rises in the early morning hours.

Neptune Aquarius

A small telescope is necessary to view the most distant planet in the solar system, now rising before midnight.