By Erich Karkoschka
Venus is at its greatest western elongation on the 4th, showing a half phase in a telescope. It is 40 degrees high at sunset and sets after 10 pm.
Mars is close to Venus, only 3 degrees ahead of it by the end of the month.
Saturn rises around midnight. Its rings are tilted by 8 degrees.
Jupiter follows Saturn 3 hours later.
Mercury has a poor visibility around 4:30 am.
