Almanac of the Bright Planets

The year opens with a bright comet moving from the southern sky into a position that better favors observers in the northern hemisphere. Comet Lovejoy is discussed in greater detail on Astra's comet page. A bright moon early in January will interfere with observations, but the comet is anticipated to be naked eye brightness.

This year, Venus has moved into the evening sky and will be a show stopper for observers in the northern hemisphere as our sister planet moves toward inferior conjunction in mid-August. Venus and Mars will join up for 3 conjunctions this year. February 22-23, Venus and Mars will be joined by the moon during the closest of the three. This bright planet will pass by the Pleiades and Hyades in April, and move toward Jupiter in the month of June to reach a position that is a mere one-third of a degree away. A spectacular sight above the western horizon, Venus will shine at -4.7 magnitude in July. After inferior conjunction on August 15, she will once gain join Mars in the morning sky. In September, Venus reaches her brightest at -4.8 magnitude. Passing within a degree of Jupiter on October 26, she will top off the year's display with the third conjunction with Mars on November 3, 2015.

Mars hangs low on the southwestern horizon until April, vanishing into the Sun's glare until August. The red planet will be in conjunction with Regulus on September 24. Mars will be in conjunction with Jupiter on October 17 and will be hanging out with the two brightest planets of the solar system for several weeks.

Jupiter opens the year as the bright planet towering over the night sky, reaching opposition on February 4. Stationed in the northern end of the ecliptic, this apparition favors the northern hemisphere. During the month of June, Jupiter meets up with Venus as mentioned above. There are 2 conjunctions in the month of July as Jupiter rides low on the northwest horizon. Jupiter disappears in early August, not to be easily observed until mid-September. Back in action in the morning sky, the giant planet again joins Mars and Venus.

Saturn begins the year in the morning sky, the rings tilted about 25 degrees, increasing to 26 degrees in December. By March the ringed planet is rising at midnight. Opposition on May 23, means that the ringed planet will be visible most of the night in late Spring and early Summer, spending most of its time in Libra. By September, Saturn sets in the early evening. Conjunction with the Sun is on November 30, the ringed planet will reappear in the morning sky by year's end.

2015 Eclipse Line-Up

There is a total solar eclipse on March 20, visible in north Africa, Europe and eastern Asia. This eclipse will be best seen from the Faroe Islands and the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, with a totality duration of 2 minutes 47 seconds. Next, there is a lunar eclipse on April 4 that is centered over the Pacific Ocean. It will be visible for Alaska, Japan, and late stages for North and South America, but not from Europe or Africa. The next eclipses is a partial solar eclipse visible from South Africa and Antarctica on September 13. The final eclipse of the year will be completely visible from South America, eastern North America, and west Africa. Crossing the southern portion of the Earth's umbra, the eclipse will take place on September 28.

Other Notes for 2015

This will be a great year for the Perseids, as the peak of the shower nearly coincides with the new Moon. The peak is at 6 hours UT on August 13, that is a Thursday night.

The September 28 total eclipse of the Moon will occur when the Moon is at perigee, its closest approach to the Earth. This, combined with the lineup of the Sun for the eclipse and the that Earth will be very close to equinox (September 23), very large tides are expected.

--See You Under the Stars!
Astra for Astra's Almanac