5 planets

[quimby44]

Hi what's the best time to see the 5 planets in a line i been told you can see them till 5 Feb is this right I live in Doncaster if that helps thanks

[MARS1960]

For me at the moment it,s around 4.30am.

If you download the free stellarium programme you can use the fast forward control and see exactly what will be visible at any given time.

[DRT]

It needs to be shortly before sunrise to have a chance of seeing Mercury. You will need an unobstructed view of the southeastern horizon with no low cloud. I read somewhere that the maximum elevation of Mercury during this alignment will be 3 degrees, which is three thumb widths above the sea with an outstretched arm.

If you are going to spend time observing each planet through a scope you should do that before Mercury rises as once it is up it will only be minutes before the others disappear in the dawn sky.

[bomberbaz]

This view from the 31st January shows it will be pretty good with the moon joining in the party. 

 

[Ruud]

You'd think the end-of-the-world people would have a field day, but for some reason they've missed this opportunity!

I've never seen Mercury, btw. Never ever. It's always lost in the glare when I try.

[bomberbaz]

going to take my grab n go and try to see them all. I will be happy to get saturns rings and the jovian moons along with simple views of the other protagonists.

[Putaendo Patrick]

Out early yesterday: Jupiter superb, Mars good, Saturn fair, Venus looked sweet with the supplied light Cl 0 Ud filter and the rest was history. Looked at the Moon with a 58A green filter to cut a bit of the glare, then went back to Jupiter with the same 58 in the early morning light about an hour before sunrise - rather interesting, never tried that before

By the way, a nice little site to identify and simulate the movement of the Galilean moons of Jupiter:

http://www.shallowsky.com/jupiter/