An Evening Sky Full of Planets

Only Mercury is missing from a Solar System parade of planets in this early evening skyscape.

Rising nearly opposite the Sun, bright Mars is at the far left. The other naked-eye planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus, can also be spotted, with the positions of too-faint Uranus and Neptune marked near the arcing trace of the Ecliptic Plane.

On the far right and close to the western horizon after sunset is a young crescent Moon whose lunar surface is partly illuminated by earthshine.

In the foreground of the composite panorama captured on 2 January, planet Earth is represented by Mount Etna’s lower Silvestri Crater.

Of course Earth’s early night sky skies are full of celestial astronomical wonders for the entire month of January.

On 13 January, a nearly Full Moon will appear to pass in front of Mars for skywatchers in the continental U.S. and Eastern Canada.