Saturday, February 15, 2025

Last Call for the Five-Planet Parade

Five planets make up the so-called "Planetary Parade" that began in January and will leave us by late February. The planets are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn and can be seen without a telescope.

Ancient civilizations called these bright lights "planets" as they traveled across the sky. "Planet" is Greek for "Wanderer." Neptune and Uranus are also part of this party but can only be seen with a telescope.

Venus will be at its brightest this weekend. Saturn will appear between Venus and the horizon. Look overhead for the super white and bright Jupiter. Mars appears less bright and red in color. Mercury stops by near the end of the month.

Saturn sinks lower in the sky each night after sunset. While Mercury will briefly join Saturn later in February in the after-sunset glow, both planets will be too low (only 10 degrees above the horizon) and faint for most observers to spot, according to NASA.

Look to the Southwest to find Venus and Saturn and scan South to Southeast. 

If you miss the planet parade this time, another one will take place in late August and will party just before sunrise.












Lower graphic by BBC

Solar System by NASA