Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn are the three planets that dominate the sky and you can spot them by stepping outside at about 10:30 P. M. under a clear night sky. Astronomers recommend looking for darker sky for better view of these planets.

Venus appears in the western sky approximately 20 degrees above the horizon. After the moon, Venus is the brightest celestial object in the night sky and appears as a very bright white looking star.

Jupiter is the next brightest planet and the largest in our solar system. It is the fifth planet in order of its distance from the Sun. It is recommended to look for the planet about 10:30 pm about 40 degrees above the southwestern horizon. The distance of Jupiter from earth is 528 million miles. With the help of a small telescope, four of its moons can be easily spotted.

Majestic Saturn and its magnificent ring system are the next bright celestial things to be seen in the night sky. Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun and its amazing ring system could be seen with a small telescope with a magnification of about 40 times.

Saturn is above the southeastern horizon well before 10:30 pm. The planet can be spotted about 20 degrees above the horizon at this time.

Venus is about 10 times brighter than Jupiter and 63 times brighter than Saturn. It is possible to see all these three planets with an unaided eye, but a telescope will certainly enhance your view.