https://www.reddit.com/r/Astronomy/comments/1izvn4r/hoping_someone_has_advice_for_seeing_the/
created by No-Midnight-1627 on 28/02/2025 at 01:02 UTC
0 upvotes, 5 top-level comments (showing 5)
[removed]
Comment by skul219 at 28/02/2025 at 01:08 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
First, this is an overhyped event and several of the planets probably won't be visible except a few minutes after sunset if you have a very good western horizon. Anything that gets people looking at the sky is good though just don't set your expectations too high.
The best way to identify things in the sky is a decent phone app and there are tons of them, some are paid, many are free and fine for what you're doing. I use SkySafari (paid) but any of them should identify planets, many will let you point your phone at the sky and then identify on the screen what the bright objects are. Just do a search on your portable device of choice and load one.
Comment by Gusto88 at 28/02/2025 at 01:04 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Stellarium or SkySafari app.
Comment by spekt50 at 28/02/2025 at 01:19 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
The planets in question would be Jupiter, Venus, and Mars, at least for naked eye viewing. They will outshine any star in the sky. Mars maybe about as dim as the brightest stars, bit still very decernible by its reddish color.
Comment by Starmanz2 at 28/02/2025 at 01:28 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Stars twinkle, planets shine with a steadier light. Planets all follow the ecliptic, which is the path the sun and moon follow.
Comment by spaghetti283 at 28/02/2025 at 01:35 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Stars shimmer at the horizon, and are generally dimmer than planets. Planets are brighter and are easy to see even in high light pollution.
Venus and Jupiter are the 3rd and 4th brightest objects in the sky. They stand out very bright in the sky compared to stars. Venus and Jupiter are like very bright white points, and Mars is a bright orange dot.
Unless you live near the western horizon, it's very hard to see Saturn and Mercury. Uranus and Neptune require a telescope to see.
If you can see Venus above the horizon after sunset (6-7PM EST), you can look straight up to see Jupiter near the zenith with Mars. Venus and Jupiter point towards Mars in our sky.