This week and early next will be your last chance to see five planets — six if you count Earth — at dawn. Nature's even throwing in a bonus Mercury–Moon conjunction.

Wide-vision Vista
The author demonstrates the wide span — 115° this week — between the five morning sky planets at dawn on Sunday, January 31st, when a bright last-quarter Moon dominated the sky.
Bob King

People ask me whether they might still see "five planets in a row," and my answer remains an emphatic "yes!". But there's a deadline coming, so I encourage you to have a look at dawn either this week or early next. By Valentine's Day, the show's pretty much over. Five will drop to four.

Slip-slidin' Down the Ecliptic
Five planets and a bright Moon at dawn photographed over Rome on February 1, 2016.
Gianluca Masi

Although the Moon shined over-bright during my morning foray on Sunday, it thins this week to a crescent and meets Mercury in a striking conjunction two days before new Moon. Right now is also the best time to catch Mercury, which crests around 7° altitude (from 40° N)  before it's lost in bright twilight. The planet has been pushing west into the morning sky since late January, rising a little higher each morning. Come February 7th, it reverses direction and traipses back toward the Sun.

Flat's Where It's At
Here's the view on Thursday morning, February 4th, about 45 minutes before sunrise from the central U.S. at 40° north latitude. Moon positions are shown through Saturday, February 6th
Stellarium

As pointed out in an earlier story by Sky & Telescope's Kelly Beatty, the planets neatly follow the arc of the ecliptic, the plane of Earth's orbit projected as a line into space and traced out by the Sun once a year. Rarely has the essential flatness of the solar system been rendered so obvious to the naked eye. For the new student of astronomy trying to make sense of where the planets travel, there's no more instructive time than now to see the concept in the flesh.

The last time the planets lined up like this occurred 11 years ago in late December 2004 to early January 2005. It next occurs in August, making 2016 rich in multiple-planets-at-a-glance sightings.

Planetary Geometry
A closer look at the conjunction of the thin Moon and Mercury, with Venus nearby, before sunrise on Saturday morning, February 6th.
Stellarium

To plan your outing, find a suitable location with a wide open view to the south and particularly to the southeast, where the low-lying planets Venus and Mercury will be hiding out. Arise about 1½ hours before sunrise when the first hint of dawn brightens the eastern sky and get set up for viewing.

Jupiter stands relatively high in the southwestern sky at this time; its brilliance makes it easy to identify. To find the other four, reach your balled fist to the sky and count off three fists to the left of Jupiter to arrive at Spica, Virgo's brightest star. Two fists farther left (east), you'll bump into fire-colored Mars. A fainter star teases your eye a little more than 1° to the lower right of the planet. That's the tongue-teaser Zubenelgenubi, Libra's second brightest star, which sits almost directly on the ecliptic.

Summer Encore
After a reshuffle, five planets will again be visible at dusk in August this year.
Stellarium

Slide nearly three more fists to the east while dropping southward, and say hello to Saturn and Antares. Saturn's the brighter and higher "star." Three more fists east and south will bring you to Venus, shining brilliantly despite its low altitude. Mercury glows just 5° — or three fingers — farther east and south.

Paired Together for Another Week
Mercury was even lower in the sky on January 31st when this photo was taken but still very easy to see. This week it's higher yet. Click photo to see a live orrery showing the layout of the planets in the solar system.
Bob King

Take in the sight, the swelling light, and you'll be in orbit the rest of the day.

Comments


Image of Anthony Barreiro

Anthony Barreiro

February 3, 2016 at 4:32 pm

It has been a treat to see the planets in the morning, and fortunately we've had a few clear (or clear enough) mornings in the past couple of weeks.

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February 5, 2016 at 3:24 pm

At last! First night in 3 weeks we had some clear skyes here in Scandinavia. Clouds in the morning hampered the view. The outer planets and our moon were seen but Venus was shining through clouds and Mercury posed me great problem needing binoculars at a very low altitude, 2 degrees above the horizon, while sun 6 degrees below .

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Bob King

February 5, 2016 at 5:14 pm

Jakob, your persistence paid off!

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February 6, 2016 at 7:34 am

Me too. I had given up on Mercury, but a friend in a new Facebook group, Chebeague Island Skywatchers (in Maine) confirmed a sighting, so I waited for the snow storm to pass and was rewarded this morning by the lovely crescent moon with Mercury just below it - and Antares and Spica as a bonus. Getting up at 5 on a Saturday, and driving to a spot which I usually pass on my morning commute, (but at 6 a.m. when there was too much dawn light for Mercury) - I think I'm turning into a fan. Thanks, Sky & Telescope and Bob Kiing..

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Tom Hoffelder

February 4, 2016 at 8:54 am

Five in a row, yes! Five at once, no.

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February 4, 2016 at 10:33 am

I just found out about this, will check tomorrow morning.

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Image of Joe Stieber

Joe Stieber

February 14, 2016 at 3:58 pm

On February 14, 2016, I was easily able to spot Mercury with binoculars about 4 degrees below-left of Venus, then see it with unaided eyes, so the five-planet show isn't over yet.

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