What planets are visible tonight?
Mercury is not visible on December 3, 2024, as it sets around 15 minutes after sunset. Mercury is difficult to find on the southwestern horizon following sunset because it disappears in the sunset glare.
On this day, Mercury shines with a magnitude of +3.9 and is located in the constellation Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer.
Venus is visible near the southwestern horizon following sunset on December 3, 2024. It sets around 3 hours after sunset. It is the brightest planet in the evening sky and is easily visible to the naked eye. Venus is easier to spot in the southern hemisphere than in the northern hemisphere for this evening apparition. In the southern hemisphere, it remains a decent height above the horizon after sunset due to the higher slope of the ecliptic.
On this day, Venus shines with a magnitude of -4.1 and is located in the zodiac constellation Sagittarius, the Archer.
Mars is visible high in the western sky preceding sunrise on December 3, 2024. It rises around 3 hours before midnight and is visible for the rest of the night. It is easily visible to the naked eye and appears reddish in the sky.
On this day, Mars shines with a magnitude of -0.5 and is located in the zodiac constellation Cancer, the Crab.
Jupiter is visible in the eastern sky following sunset on December 3, 2024. It rises around an hour after sunset and is visible for the rest of the night. It is the second brightest planet in the evening sky and is easily visible to the naked eye.
On this day, Jupiter shines with a magnitude of -2.7 and is located in the zodiac constellation Taurus, the Bull.
Saturn is visible in the southern sky following sunset on December 3, 2024. It is visible to the far upper left of bright Venus. It sets around midnight. It is easily visible to the naked eye and appears golden in the sky.
On this day, Saturn shines with a magnitude of +1.0 and is located in the zodiac constellation Aquarius, the Water Bearer.
Uranus is visible in the eastern sky following sunset on December 3, 2024. It is visible to the right of the Pleiades star cluster. It is visible almost all night and sets around a couple of hours before sunrise. As Uranus shines at the edge of naked-eye visibility, it is hardly visible to the naked eye unless you have clear eyesight and a very dark sky.
On this day, Uranus shines with a magnitude of +5.6 and is located in the zodiac constellation Taurus, the Bull.
Neptune is visible in the southern sky following sunset on December 3, 2024. It is visible to the left of Saturn. It sets around an hour after midnight. As Neptune shines beyond the edge of naked-eye visibility, it is not visible to the naked eye. You need a telescope or high-powered binoculars to see it.
On this day, Neptune shines with a magnitude of +7.9 and is located in the zodiac constellation Pisces, the Fish.
Tips to identify planets in the night sky
Like all the celestial objects, planets rise in the east and set in the west. Here are a few tips to identify planets in the night sky:
Tip 1: Planets are not visible anywhere in the sky. They are visible along the ecliptic. The ecliptic is the path of the sun across the sky. So notice carefully where the sun rises, along which path it moves during the day, and where it sets. Planets are visible along this path at night.
Tip 2: Generally, planets are brighter than most of the stars in the night sky and shine with steady light. They do not twinkle like stars. Anything that is bright but not along the ecliptic cannot be a planet.
Tip 3: Mars appears reddish, Jupiter appears bright white, and Saturn appears golden in the night sky.
Tip 4: Mercury and Venus can never be seen overhead in the night sky. They are always visible near the western horizon following sunset or near the eastern horizon preceding sunrise.
Tip 5: Venus is the brightest object, and Jupiter is the second brightest object in the night sky (except for the moon).
Mercury in December 2024
Currently, Mercury is rapidly approaching the sun’s glare, making it gradually harder to observe in the western sky after sunset.
Mercury will reach its inferior solar conjunction on December 6, 2024. At that time, Mercury will completely disappear in the sun’s glare as it rises and sets with the sun. It will be impossible to observe Mercury around that time.
After the inferior solar conjunction, Mercury will rapidly emerge from the sun’s glare and will be visible in the eastern sky before sunrise from mid-December.
Mercury will reach its greatest western elongation – its maximum angular separation from the sun in the morning sky – on December 25, 2024. At that time, Mercury will be 22°W from the sun. It will be the best time to observe Mercury in the eastern sky before sunrise in December.
Mercury will be visible very close to the waning crescent moon on the morning of December 28, 2024.
Venus in December 2024
Currently, Venus is slowly emerging from the sun’s glare and is visible in the western sky after sunset as an “evening star.”
Every day in December, Venus will gain altitude as well as brightness gradually in the evening sky. So as the day progresses, it will be easier to observe.
Venus will be visible very close to the waxing crescent moon on the evening of December 4, 2024.
Venus will reach its greatest eastern elongation – its maximum angular separation from the sun in the evening sky – on January 10, 2025. At that time, Venus will be 47.2°E from the sun in our sky. It will be the best time to observe Venus in the western sky after sunset.
Mars in December 2024
Mars will be visible from mid-evening through dawn in December. Its brightness will rapidly increase every day.
At the beginning of December, Mars will rise about 4 hours after sunset, and by the end of December, it will rise about a couple of hours after sunset.
Reddish Mars will shine brightly near the bright stars of yellowish Pollux and blueish Castor in December. Pollux and Castor are the twin stars in the constellation Gemini.
Mars will be visible very close to the waning gibbous moon on the morning of December 18, 2024.
Mars will be brightest and visible almost all night in our sky in January 2025 as it will reach its opposition on January 16, 2025. At that time, Mars will be located on the opposite side of the sun on our sky’s dome. It will be the best time of the year to observe Mars.
Jupiter in December 2024
Jupiter will be visible from early evening through dawn in December. Its brightness will gradually increase until December 7, and after that, for the rest of December, its brightness will gradually decrease.
Jupiter rises and sets around four minutes earlier each day. At the beginning of December, it will rise around an hour after sunset, and by the end of December, it will rise around an hour before sunset.
Jupiter will be brightest and visible almost all night in our sky in December 2024 as it will reach its opposition on December 7, 2024. At that time, Jupiter will be located on the opposite side of the sun on our sky’s dome. It will be the best time of the year to observe Jupiter.
Jupiter will be visible very close to the waxing gibbous moon on the evening of December 14, 2024.
Saturn in December 2024
Saturn will be visible from early evening through late evening in December. Its brightness will gradually decrease every day.
Saturn rises and sets around four minutes earlier each day. At the beginning of December, it will set around an hour before midnight, and by the end of December, it will set around 3 hours before midnight.
Saturn will be visible very close to the waxing crescent moon on the evening of December 7, 2024.
Saturn and Venus will move towards each other every day in December and they will meet in the southwestern sky on the evening of January 18, 2025, creating a conjunction of Saturn and Venus.
Saturn will be brightest and visible almost all night in our sky in September 2025 as it will reach its opposition on September 21, 2025. At that time, Saturn will be located on the opposite side of the sun on our sky’s dome. It will be the best time of the year to observe Saturn.
Uranus in December 2024
Uranus will be visible from early evening through pre-dawn in December. Its brightness will gradually decrease every day.
Uranus rises and sets around four minutes earlier each day. At the beginning of December, it will set around a couple of hours before sunrise, and by the end of December, it will set around 4 hours before sunrise.
Uranus will be visible very close to the waxing gibbous moon on the evening of December 12, 2024.
Uranus will be brightest and visible almost all night in our sky in November 2025 as it will reach its opposition on November 21, 2025. At that time, Uranus will be located on the opposite side of the sun on our sky’s dome. It will be the best time of the year to observe Uranus.
Neptune in December 2024
Neptune will be visible from early evening through midnight in December. Its brightness will gradually decrease every day.
Neptune rises and sets around four minutes earlier each day. At the beginning of December, it will set around midnight, and by the end of December, it will set around a couple of hours before midnight.
Neptune will be visible very close to the first quarter moon on the evening of December 8, 2024.
Neptune will be brightest and visible almost all night in our sky in September 2025 as it will reach its opposition on September 23, 2025. At that time, Neptune will be located on the opposite side of the sun on our sky’s dome. It will be the best time of the year to observe Neptune.
Resources
Visit the Stellarium Online for precise positions of planets from your location.
Visible star clusters December 2024: What star clusters are visible tonight?
Moon phases December 2024: What is the moon phase tonight?
Mercury phases 2024: What is the Mercury phase tonight?
Venus phases 2024: What is the Venus phase tonight?
What planet is near the moon in the night sky tonight?
Happy skywatching!
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