Planets in 2006
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Mercury
The solar system's smallest planet, which is named for the Roman messenger god, who flew from Olympus on winged heels, flits back and forth from morning sky to evening sky several times a year. It never strays far from the Sun in our sky, so it's tough to find in the glare. From the northern hemisphere, it's visible in the morning sky this year in March and April, July, and November. The late-year appearance is the best, because the planet will stand highest above the horizon. In the evening, Mercury is best seen from late January through mid February, late May though early June, and September through mid October.

Venus
Venus, the dazzling morning or evening star, outshines all the other stars and planets in the night sky. It begins the year in the evening sky, low in the west shortly after sunset. It will move a little higher during spring and early summer, before dropping back and disappearing from view in early August. It will quickly scoot over to the morning sky, where it will reappear in late August. It will spend the rest of the year as the morning star.

Mars
Mars begins the year as a moderately bright orange star very low in the southeast at sunrise. As the year progresses, it will rise a little earlier and climb a little higher in the sky. It will put on its best showing around Christmas, when it will be closest to Earth, so it will be brightest for the year and will remain in view all night.

Jupiter
The largest planet in our solar system is a commanding presence in the night sky for much of the year. It looks like an intensely bright cream-colored star, shining brighter than anything else in the night sky except the Moon and Venus. It starts the year low in the southeast at first light, not far from Antares, the brightest star of Scorpius. It rises earlier as the months go by, and moves into the evening sky by spring. Jupiter is at opposition in early June, when it appears brightest for the year and remains visible all night. It will disappear behind the Sun in early December, where it will remain hidden from view for the rest of the year.

Saturn
Saturn looks like a bright golden star. It spends the year in Leo, the lion. It disappears behind the Sun in early August, then reemerges in the morning sky in September. It is brightest at the beginning of the year, when it's closest to us.

Uranus
Although it's the third-largest planet in the solar system, it's so far from the Sun that you need binoculars to see it. It spends the year in the constellation Aquarius. It stages its best appearance in early September.

Neptune
The fourth-largest planet in the solar system is so far away that you need a telescope to find it. Neptune appears in the constellation Capricornus, and stages its best appearance in August.