2011 Skywatching Guide: Planets in the Solar System

How to best observe the major planets of our Solar System. Some have worlds of their own.

The planets of our solar system are at tomes some of the most rewarding and simplest skywatching targets to spot, if you know when and where to look. Here's a look at how to observe the planets of the solar system in 2011:

Tip: Astronomers measure distances in the sky in terms of degrees. For reference, your clenched fist held at arm's length covers about 10 degrees of the night sky. The brightness of a planet or other object in the sky is measured as its "magnitude." The lower an object's magnitude, the brighter it appears, so objects with negative signs in front of their magnitude numbers below are exceptionally bright.

Mercury

Mercury is often a difficult planet to find, but there are certain short periods each year when it can be seen with the naked eye with little effort, either just after sunset or before sunrise. [Infographic: Mercury, closest to the sun]

In 2011, Northern Hemisphere observers will two periods when Mercury can easily be located. During the second half of March, Mercury can be seen low in the west-northwest soon after sunset. During early September, Mercury can be seen low in the east-northeast Just before sunrise.

Southern Hemisphere observers will find Mercury well placed in the morning sky during early May, in the evening sky in late July, and in the evening sky in mid-November.

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Date

Event

Degrees from Sun

Magnitude

N. Hemisphere

S. Hemisphere

Visibility

January 9

Greatest Elongation West

23

–0.3

Poor

Good

Morning

February 25

Superior Conjunction

     

March 23

Greatest Elongation East

19

–0.2

Excellent

Poor

Evening

April 9

Inferior Conjunction

     

May 7

Greatest Elongation West

27

+0.4

Poor

Excellent

Morning

June 13

Superior Conjunction

     

July 20

Greatest Elongation East

27

+0.3

Fair

Excellent

Evening

August 17

Inferior Conjunction

     

September 3

Greatest Elongation West

18

–0.2

Excellent

Poor

Morning

September 28

Superior Conjunction

     

November 14

Greatest Elongation East

23

–0.3

Poor

Excellent

Evening

December 4

Inferior Conjunction

     

December 23

Greatest Elongation West

22

–0.4

Good

Good

Morning

Venus

2011 is not a very good year for observing Venus. It spends most of its time in the morning sky or on the far side of the sun. [Infographic: Venus unveiled]

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Date

Event

Magnitude

January 8

Greatest Elongation West

–4.3

August 16

Superior Conjunction

–3.8

Mars

2011 is also a poor year for observing Mars. It spends most of the year on the far side of the sun, and only begins to get large enough to see any detail on it in the last few weeks of the year. [Infographic: Mars, the Red Planet]

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Date

Event

Magnitude

February 4

Conjunction

+1.1

Jupiter

Jupiter spends the first part of the year in the constellation Pisces, except for a brief incursion into the constellation Cetus from February 24 to March 8. [Infographic: Jupiter, largest planet in the solar system]

Let the astrologers make of that what they will. It moves into Aries on June 6. It moves back into Pisces on Dec. 3. It is best viewed in the morning sky from July until the Oct. 29 opposition, when it moves into the evening sky for the rest of the year. The angular diameter at opposition will be 49.6 arcseconds. Binoculars will show the four largest satellites. A small telescope will show one or two cloud bands across the visible surface of the planet.

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Date

Event

Magnitude

April 6

Conjunction

–2.1

Oct. 29

Opposition

–2.9

Saturn

Saturn will spend all of the year in Virgo. Saturn can be viewed in the morning sky until April 4, when it moves into the evening sky. [Infographic: Saturn and its many rings]

From September to November it will be behind the sun, reappearing in December in the morning sky. The rings will gradually be opening over the year, making them easy to see in any telescope magnifying more than about 30x.

Saturn’s largest moon Titan is readily visible in a small telescope, and several more moons may be seen in larger telescopes. At opposition, the planet’s angular diameter will be 19.3 arc seconds.

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Date

Event

Magnitude

April 4

Opposition

0.4

Oct. 13

Conjunction

0.7

Uranus

Uranus spends all of 2011 in the southwestern part of Pisces. It is best viewed in fall. It is in opposition on September 26, when it moves from the morning sky into the evening sky. Although it may be seen with the naked eye in a very dark sky, usually binoculars will be required to make it out. Its angular diameter is less than 4 arcseconds. [Infographic: Uranus]

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Date

Event

Magnitude

March 21

Conjunction

5.9

Sept. 26

Opposition

5.7

Neptune

Neptune starts out 2011 in Capricornus, but on Jan. 23 it moves into Aquarius for the rest of the year. It is best viewed during the late summer and early fall. It is in opposition on Aug. 22, when it moves from the morning sky into the evening sky. Binoculars or a small telescope will be required to see it. The angular diameter is about 2 arcseconds. [Infographic: Neptune Revealed]

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Date

Event

Magnitude

Feb. 17

Conjunction

8.0

Aug. 22

Opposition

7.8

Source: RASC Observer’s Handbook 2011 and Starry Night Software

This 2011 Planets Skywatching Guide is provided by Starry Night Education, the leader in space science curriculum solutions.

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Geoff Gaherty
Starry Night Sky Columnist

Geoff Gaherty was Space.com's Night Sky columnist and in partnership with Starry Night software and a dedicated amateur astronomer who sought to share the wonders of the night sky with the world. Based in Canada, Geoff studied mathematics and physics at McGill University and earned a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Toronto, all while pursuing a passion for the night sky and serving as an astronomy communicator. He credited a partial solar eclipse observed in 1946 (at age 5) and his 1957 sighting of the Comet Arend-Roland as a teenager for sparking his interest in amateur astronomy. In 2008, Geoff won the Chant Medal from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, an award given to a Canadian amateur astronomer in recognition of their lifetime achievements. Sadly, Geoff passed away July 7, 2016 due to complications from a kidney transplant, but his legacy continues at Starry Night.