By Erich Karkoschka
Saturn is the first planet to rise at night, at 10 pm in early July. By the Opposition on August 14, it rises at sunset.
Jupiter is the second planet to rise, at midnight in early July. By the Opposition on September 26, it rises at sunset.
Mars is the third planet to rise, at 1 am in early July, but already at 10 pm by late September. It moves from Aries into Taurus, passing Aldebaran on September 7. It has brightened to zero magnitude. In a telescope, one can watch its diameter increasing from 7 to 12 arc-seconds.
Venus is the fourth planet to rise, at 3:30 am in early July, but close to 6 am by late September, which is not much before sunrise. This means Venus is leaving the morning sky by the Fall.
Mercury is the last planet to rise at dawn, visible until July 6. From Mercury to Saturn, all planets have been visible at dawn in the order of their distances from the Sun. All August, Mercury is visible low at dusk.
Neptune is visible in binoculars about 10 degrees west of Jupiter.
Uranus is rising at 2 am in early July, but 8 pm by late September. It moves slowly in Aries.
Vesta is an easy binocular object in Aquarius at 6th magnitude. Its Opposition is August 22.
