What planets are visible tonight?
Jupiter will be visible near the horizon in the western sky following sunset. Jupiter will set about an hour after sunset on April 26, 2024. However, it will be hard to spot Jupiter in the bright evening twilight.
Mercury and Venus will not be visible because they will rise and set almost with the sun on April 26, 2024.
Mars and Saturn will be visible near the horizon in the eastern sky preceding sunrise. Saturn will be visible to the upper right of Mars. Both of them will rise about an hour before sunrise on April 26, 2024.
Mercury: Not visible in April
Mercury is too close to the sun in our sky’s dome to be visible in April 2024. Mercury will reach inferior solar conjunction on April 11, 2024, meaning it will completely disappear in the sun’s glare in front of the sun. After inferior solar conjunction, it will slowly emerge from the sun’s glare and will be visible in the morning twilight in May 2024.
Venus: Not visible in April
Like Mercury, Venus is too close to the sun in our sky’s dome to be visible in April 2024. Venus will reach superior solar conjunction on June 4, 2024, meaning it will completely disappear in the sun’s glare behind the sun. After superior solar conjunction, it will gradually emerge from the sun’s glare and will be visible in the evening twilight in August 2024.
Mars: Visible throughout April
Mars will be visible throughout the month of April 2024 in the mornings. Each day in April 2024, Mars will gain altitude slowly in the eastern sky and will move away from the sun’s glare, making it easier to find.
Where to look: Look near the horizon in the morning twilight in April 2024 to see planet Mars. A close pair of Mars and Saturn (called conjunction) will be visible on the mornings of April 10 and 11. The slim, waning crescent moon will be visible to the lower left of Mars on the morning of April 6, 2024 (see image).
Brightness: The brightness of Mars will gradually increase in April 2024. At the beginning of April, it will shine with a magnitude of +1.2, and at the end of April, it will be +1.1.
Constellation: Mars will be located in the zodiac constellation Aquarius until April 23 and will move into another zodiac constellation, Pisces, for the rest of April 2024.
Jupiter: Visible throughout April
Jupiter will be visible throughout the month of April 2024 in the evenings. Each day in April 2024, Jupiter will lose altitude in the western sky and will set earlier than the previous day.
Where to look: Look low in the western sky following sunset in April 2024 to see planet Jupiter. It will be the brightest object in the evening sky (except the moon). The slim, waxing crescent moon will be visible to the upper right of Jupiter on the evening of April 10, 2024 (see image).
Brightness: The brightness of Jupiter will be almost the same throughout April 2024, and it will shine with a magnitude of -1.9.
Constellation: Jupiter will be located in the zodiac constellation Aries throughout the month of April 2024. Aries, the Ram is relatively a dim constellation and Hamal is the brightest star of it.
Note: Jupiter will appear like a bright star to the naked eye. You’ll need a telescope to see Jupiter’s disk and its moons.
Saturn: Visible throughout April
Saturn will be visible throughout the month of April 2024 in the mornings. Each day in April 2024, Saturn will gain altitude much faster than Mars in the eastern sky.
Where to look:Like Mars, look near the horizon in the morning twilight in April 2024 to see planet Saturn. Saturn will be visible to the lower left of Mars at the beginning of April, will meet Mars on the mornings of April 10 and 11, and will cross Mars after that as it climbs faster than Mars. The slim, waning crescent moon will be visible below Saturn on the morning of April 6, 2024 (see image).
Brightness: The brightness of Saturn will gradually decrease in April 2024. At the beginning of April, it will shine with a magnitude of +1.1, and at the end of April, it will be +1.2.
Constellation: Saturn will be located in the zodiac constellation Aquarius throughout the month of April 2024.
Resources
Visit theStellarium onlinefor precise positions of planets from your location.
Moon phases April 2024: What is the moon phase today?
Happy skywatching!
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