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 Libra → Scorpius → Ophiuchus

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

Mercury Libra → Scorpius → Ophiuchus → Scorpius

Found in the west after sunset, this tiny planet remains close to the horizon all month from a northern vantage point. However, southern planet watchers will see it rapidly climb into the sunset sky until late in the month before falling just as quickly. It reaches greatest elongation east on 24 October.

Venus Virgo → Libra

The morning star is getting quite low in the east now, particularly for southern hemisphere observers. It has a particularly close encounter with Jupiter on 13 November. Venus is the brighter of the pair.

Mars Virgo

Mars is a morning sky object, increasing its distance in the sky from the Sun and slowly brightening.

Jupiter Virgo → Libra

Following its conjunction last month, the king of the planets reappears in the morning sky. It passes within a degree of Venus on 13 November.

Saturn Ophiuchus → Sagittarius

At conjunction with the Sun early next month, the ringed planet is disappearing into the western twilight glow after sunset.

Uranus Pisces

At opposition last month, this green-coloured ice giant is visible for much of the night, not setting until after midnight.

Neptune Aquarius

A small telescope is necessary to view the most distant planet in the solar system. It sets around midnight.