By Erich Karkoschka
![](https://tucsonastronomy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/planet-of-the-month-saturn-e1614707047272.png)
Saturn is well visible during the early evening. It sets around 8 pm. Soon it will be too close to the Sun. When it reappears in the Spring, Saturn’s rings will only be half as open as now.
![](https://tucsonastronomy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/planet-of-the-month-jupiter.png)
Jupiter transits during dusk. It is very high and good for telescopic observations. On the 20th, Ganymede is transiting the disk after 10 pm, visible as a dark spot.
![](https://tucsonastronomy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/planet-of-the-month-uranus-neptune.png)
Uranus is high in the evening sky east of Jupiter.
Neptune is west of Jupiter.
![](https://tucsonastronomy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/planet-of-the-month-venus.png)
Brilliant Venus is best observed between 5 and 6 am, just before down starts.
![](https://tucsonastronomy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/planet-of-the-month-mercury.png)
Mercury joins Venus, visible until the end of the month. It is to the lower left of Venus around 6-7 am. There is no other star at similar brightness in this area of the sky. If you see one, it is Mercury.
![](https://tucsonastronomy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/planet-of-the-month-mars.png)
Mars is within half a degree of Mercury on the 27th. Since it is a magnitude fainter then Mercury, it may require very clear air to make it out naked eye. Binoculars will easily show this close pair.