How to see planets Jupiter, Saturn AND Mars rising in night sky tonight with naked eye
IF you're a big stargazing fan then make sure you're free tonight to spot Jupiter, Mars and Saturn.
This evening is said to be the perfect time to watch the planets rise one after the other.
Catching the phenomenon does depend on where you live and your time zone.
However, the order of the planet appearances won't change no matter where you are.
Jupiter rises first, then Saturn and then Mars around 90 minutes later.
The planets will be rising earlier and earlier throughout June but for an idea of tonight's times take a look at the list below.
How to see a planet rise
Because the times for planet rises differ on location, it's good to use an astronomy website to get information specific for you.
Try , and .
For example, in London tonight the planet's are expected to rise at the following times:
- Jupiter-rise: 23:30
- Saturn-rise: 23:44
- Mars-rise: 01:41
However, in New York, stargazers will need to follow this timeframe:
- Jupiter-rise: 22:47
- Saturn-rise: 23:04
- Mars-rise: 01:25
Each planet rises in the east and sets in the west.
The planets should be visible to spot without equipment but to see them looking like more than stars a medium sized telescope would help.
Saturn and Jupiter will appear close to the Moon, Saturn almost directly above and Jupiter slightly above the Moon and to the right.
For help, look between the Capricorn and Sagittarius constellations.
Mars won't be this close to the Moon.
Instead you should locate the Aquarius constellation to spot it.
Binoculars or a telescope will definitely be helpful in distinguishing the planets from other stars.
If you need to use a sky chart app on your phone to locate the planets, try adjusting the brightness settings so your eyes don't get too distorted by the light.
Stargazing is always best in clear weather and as far away from light pollution as possible.
Mars facts
Here's what you need to know about the red planet...
- Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun
- It is named after the Roman god of war
- The landmass of Mars is very similar to Earth but due to the difference in gravity you could jump three times higher there than you can here
- Mars is mountainous and hosts the tallest mountain known in the Solar System called Olympus Mons, which is three times higher than Everest
- Mars is considered to be the second most habitable planet after Earth
- It takes the planet 687 Earth days to orbit the Sun
- So far, there has been 39 missions to Mars but only 16 of these have been successful
Most read in Science
In other space news, Elon Musk has said a Starship to put Americans on Mars is now a ‘top priority’.
Nasa has revealed the design of a moon lander that could be taking astronauts back to the lunar surface by 2024.
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And, the space agency also recently released an unusual image of the 'death explosion' of a massive star that looks just like a bat.
How often do you stargaze? Let us know in the comments...
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