2008 Planetary Positions
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Venus
Venus was the Morning and Evening Star of ancient civilizations such as those of the Greeks,
Romans, and Sumerians. The planet outshines every other body in the sky, except the Sun and
the Moon, and sometimes it's even bright enough to cast faint shadows. No wonder that its brilliant
gleaming in the twilight skies inspired the Romans to name it Venus, for their goddess of love and
beauty.
Venus was the Morning and Evening Star of ancient civilizations such as those of the Greeks,
Romans, and Sumerians. The planet outshines every other body in the sky, except the Sun and
the Moon, and sometimes it's even bright enough to cast faint shadows. No wonder that its brilliant
gleaming in the twilight skies inspired the Romans to name it Venus, for their goddess of love and
beauty.
Jupiter
The largest planet in our solar system is a commanding presence in the night sky for much of the year. It looks like an
intensely bright cream-colored star, shining brighter than anything else in the night sky except the Moon and Venus.
Jupiter is in the constellation Sagittarius throughout 2008. It starts the year as a morning object too close to the Sun to
observe. By the end of January it will becoming visible in the dawn sky. On the morning of February 2 in New Zealand,
Jupiter and Venus will be just over half a degree apart.
By May Jupiter will be rising about 2 hours before midnight and so be visible in the late evening sky. It will rise progressively earlier and
become visible throughout the evening after opposition on July 9. Towards the end of the year, Jupiter will set before midnight so become
an early evening object.
The largest planet in our solar system is a commanding presence in the night sky for much of the year. It looks like an
intensely bright cream-colored star, shining brighter than anything else in the night sky except the Moon and Venus.
Jupiter is in the constellation Sagittarius throughout 2008. It starts the year as a morning object too close to the Sun to
observe. By the end of January it will becoming visible in the dawn sky. On the morning of February 2 in New Zealand,
Jupiter and Venus will be just over half a degree apart.
By May Jupiter will be rising about 2 hours before midnight and so be visible in the late evening sky. It will rise progressively earlier and
become visible throughout the evening after opposition on July 9. Towards the end of the year, Jupiter will set before midnight so become
an early evening object.
Saturn
Saturn looks like a bright golden star. Saturn is in Virgo throughout 2008 and is at opposition on February 24. The
planet rises about midnight on January 1 and becomes visible as a late evening object by the beginning of February
. It will be visible throughout the evening from mid March.
Saturn remains an evening object until it is at conjunction with the Sun on September 4. It will be too close to the
Sun for observing from about the beginning of August. After conjunction Saturn will become visible in the morning
sky from early October.
Saturn looks like a bright golden star. Saturn is in Virgo throughout 2008 and is at opposition on February 24. The
planet rises about midnight on January 1 and becomes visible as a late evening object by the beginning of February
. It will be visible throughout the evening from mid March.
Saturn remains an evening object until it is at conjunction with the Sun on September 4. It will be too close to the
Sun for observing from about the beginning of August. After conjunction Saturn will become visible in the morning
sky from early October.
Uranus
Although it's the third-largest planet in the solar system, it's so far from the Sun that you need binoculars to see it. In
Aquarius, is at conjunction with the Sun on March 8, so apart from being briefly visible in the early evening sky in
January, will be too close to the Sun to observe until April, when it will emerge from the Sun into the morning sky. It
reaches opposition on September 13.
Although it's the third-largest planet in the solar system, it's so far from the Sun that you need binoculars to see it. In
Aquarius, is at conjunction with the Sun on March 8, so apart from being briefly visible in the early evening sky in
January, will be too close to the Sun to observe until April, when it will emerge from the Sun into the morning sky. It
reaches opposition on September 13.
Neptune
The fourth-largest planet in the solar system is so far away that you need a telescope to find it. Neptune is in Aquarius and
at conjunction on February 11. As a result it will be too close to the Sun to observe until mid or late March when it is in the
morning sky. Opposition is on August 15, so it will be observable throughout the evening from about the beginning of
September.
The fourth-largest planet in the solar system is so far away that you need a telescope to find it. Neptune is in Aquarius and
at conjunction on February 11. As a result it will be too close to the Sun to observe until mid or late March when it is in the
morning sky. Opposition is on August 15, so it will be observable throughout the evening from about the beginning of
September.
Pluto
The solar system's smallest and most distant planet is never visible without the aid of a good-sized telescope.
It's in the constellation Sagittarius. Pluto will move into the sign of Capricorn on January 25, 08; the first time it
has passed through this sector of the sky since 1762.
The solar system's smallest and most distant planet is never visible without the aid of a good-sized telescope.
It's in the constellation Sagittarius. Pluto will move into the sign of Capricorn on January 25, 08; the first time it
has passed through this sector of the sky since 1762.
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Mercury
The solar system's smallest planet, which is named for the Roman messenger god,who flew from
Olympus on winged heels, flits back and forth from morning sky to evening sky several times a year.
It never strays far from the Sun in our sky, so it's tough to find in the glare. Mercury is in the evening
sky up to 6 February, between April 16 and July 7 and again between July 29 and October 6 and
lastly from 25 November on into 2009. It is a morning object from February 6 to April 16, also from
July 7 to July 29 and from October 6 to November 25.
The best evening apparition for southern hemisphere observers is, as usual, in the August and September period.
In 2008 Mercury will set about two and a half hours after the Sun in the middle of September. At the same time there
will be a triple conjunction involving Mercury, Venus and Mars.
The best morning apparition will be in March when Mercury will rise nearly two and a half hours before the Sun. And
again there will be a triple planetary conjunction, this time involving Mercury, Venus and Neptune.
For northern hemisphere observers the best evening apparition is in May and the best morning apparition is in late
October.
The solar system's smallest planet, which is named for the Roman messenger god,who flew from
Olympus on winged heels, flits back and forth from morning sky to evening sky several times a year.
It never strays far from the Sun in our sky, so it's tough to find in the glare. Mercury is in the evening
sky up to 6 February, between April 16 and July 7 and again between July 29 and October 6 and
lastly from 25 November on into 2009. It is a morning object from February 6 to April 16, also from
July 7 to July 29 and from October 6 to November 25.
The best evening apparition for southern hemisphere observers is, as usual, in the August and September period.
In 2008 Mercury will set about two and a half hours after the Sun in the middle of September. At the same time there
will be a triple conjunction involving Mercury, Venus and Mars.
The best morning apparition will be in March when Mercury will rise nearly two and a half hours before the Sun. And
again there will be a triple planetary conjunction, this time involving Mercury, Venus and Neptune.
For northern hemisphere observers the best evening apparition is in May and the best morning apparition is in late
October.
Mars
Mars begins the year as an evening object in 2008 until Dec 5 when it is at conjunction with the Sun. For the first two
months the planet will be visible all evening, after that it will gradually set earlier in the evening. Thus, in New Zealand, it
will set about midnight (NZDT) by th end of March, mid evening by the beginning of July and less than an hour after
sunset from the end of October. By then Mars will be too close to the Sun to observe.
During the first part of 2008 Mars will fade quite rapidly, its magnitude changing from -1.5 on January 1 to 1.5 by the beginning of June. After
that its magnitude will not vary much for the rest of the year.
Mars start 2008 a long way north of the celestial equator so will be low in southern skies. From April it will be moving steadily south, crossing
the equator on August 24 and so getting higher in southern skies.
On July 1, Mars will be 40 arc minutes from the star Regulus. With a magnitude 1.4, the star will be slightly brighter than Mars.
Mars begins the year as an evening object in 2008 until Dec 5 when it is at conjunction with the Sun. For the first two
months the planet will be visible all evening, after that it will gradually set earlier in the evening. Thus, in New Zealand, it
will set about midnight (NZDT) by th end of March, mid evening by the beginning of July and less than an hour after
sunset from the end of October. By then Mars will be too close to the Sun to observe.
During the first part of 2008 Mars will fade quite rapidly, its magnitude changing from -1.5 on January 1 to 1.5 by the beginning of June. After
that its magnitude will not vary much for the rest of the year.
Mars start 2008 a long way north of the celestial equator so will be low in southern skies. From April it will be moving steadily south, crossing
the equator on August 24 and so getting higher in southern skies.
On July 1, Mars will be 40 arc minutes from the star Regulus. With a magnitude 1.4, the star will be slightly brighter than Mars.
Venus, the dazzling morning or evening star, outshines all the other stars and planets in the night sky. Venus is a
morning object until early June when its is at superior conjunction with the Sun on June 9. After that it moves into the
evening sky for the rest of the year. The planet will be too close to the Sun to observe for about a month either side of
conjunction.
This year's superior conjunction is half way in time between the pair of transits of Venus in June 2004 and June 2012, when the planet is at
inferior conjunction and passes across the face of the Sun. As might be expected, Venus passes behind the Sun as "seen" from the Earth
at this year's conjunction. The planet will be behind the Sun for about 45 hours, much longer than the transit takes because Sun and Venus
will both be moving to the east as seen from the Earth. At a transit, Venus appears to be moving to the west.
morning object until early June when its is at superior conjunction with the Sun on June 9. After that it moves into the
evening sky for the rest of the year. The planet will be too close to the Sun to observe for about a month either side of
conjunction.
This year's superior conjunction is half way in time between the pair of transits of Venus in June 2004 and June 2012, when the planet is at
inferior conjunction and passes across the face of the Sun. As might be expected, Venus passes behind the Sun as "seen" from the Earth
at this year's conjunction. The planet will be behind the Sun for about 45 hours, much longer than the transit takes because Sun and Venus
will both be moving to the east as seen from the Earth. At a transit, Venus appears to be moving to the west.
