Can I see any planets with a simple pair of binoculars. And at what time and which directions?

Question

Ok so I want to know if I can look at planets with a pair of binoculars, but i dont't know where and when to look???

Answer 1

Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn may be viewed with the naked eye depending upon their position in the sky. One would need to excercise caution when viewing towards the Sun with binoculars.

Currently, 9/1/07, Mars and Jupiter are viewable. Geoff is correct that Venus has been visible as a thin crescent since 8/25/07. Later this month, viewing of Venus will improve and Saturn will also present viewing opportunities after the 28th.

There are several websites that can give you updated information as to which planets are visible and where to look. Here are some:

http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/

http://www.astroviewer.com/

http://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky/

http://www.dustbunny.com/afk/skymaps/

http://www.michiganstartpages.com/news/skymap.htm

Answer 2

Those who said Venus isn't visible are wrong. I saw it the morning of the eclipse both naked eye and with my telescope well before sunrise. It's a large but extremely thin crescent at the moment, worth getting up early to see! You do need a good eastern horizon, though. You actually should be able to see the crescent with binoculars.

Answer 3

Yes you can, if you are north of the equator look in the general area that the sun tracks across the sky. look for a light that is not twinkling, two hours after sunset.

Answer 4

Venus and Jupiter are the easiest.

Jupiter is visible right now. Check one hour after sunset, looking south-southwest. Check this map:
http://www.nightskyinfo.com/maps_images/html/jupiter_map.htm

Venus is not visible, but it's the third brightest object in our sky after the Sun and Moon.

Answer 5

Yes, but don't expect to see the disc.
All you'll see is a bright point.