- Planétarium
Here's a look at the planets that will be observable with the naked eye in the coming days. Follow these guidelines to find out where and when to look for them.
From March 6 to 20, 2023
Mercury is too close to the Sun and is not visible at the moment. From Earth’s perspective, the tiny planet passes behind the Sun (superior conjunction) on March 17 and will reappear in the evening sky by the end of the month.
Venus is the dazzling Evening Star that shines in the west 30 minutes after sunset. Slightly fainter Jupiter shines to its lower right: Notice how the gap between the two brightest planets is widening with each passing evening. On March 23 at dusk, the thin lunar crescent hangs 6½ degrees below Venus; the following evening, March 24, the Moon appears 6 degrees above the Evening Star.
Mars is receding from Earth but remains a conspicuously bright, orangish object. The Red Planet appears at dusk, shining about 70 degrees high in the south, and vanishes below the west-northwest horizon around 2:00 a.m. On the evenings of March 27 and 28, the waxing Moon will shine a few degrees from the Red Planet.
Jupiter appears lower and lower during twilight. The Giant Planet sinks deeper in the glare of sunset with each passing day: we’ll lose sight of it before the end of March. At dusk on March 22, about 30 minutes after sunset, the thin waxing crescent Moon hangs just one degree to the upper left of the Giant Planet: you’ll find the pair very close to the western horizon.
Saturn is too close to the Sun and is not visible. The Ringed Planet passed behind the Sun (conjunction) on February 16 and will reappear in late March in the east-southeast at dawn.
