WOW! It's a great time to look for planets. You can currently see all 5 naked eye planets in the sky - if it's clear. At sunset Jupiter, dazzling Venus and Mercury are all lined up in the west. Mercury is very low, so you need a clear western horizon. Also you won't see it for long after sunset, though Venus and Jupiter are quite stunning well after dark.

Venus and Jupiter move close together in the sky until they are at their closest on March 15. That will certainly be worth seeing!

Looking east, you should be able to pick out Mars. It was at opposition yesterday (Saturday March 3), which is when it's closest to us. You can find it in Leo and it really does have a reddish tinge. It rises around sunset and is visible all night long.

In the east we can also find Saturn, but not until 10.00 or so. It's in Virgo near the bright star Spica. If you're an early riser, you can also find them high in the sky before dawn.
Mars finder chart

If you don't have a star chart or planisphere, Heavens-above.com can provide a sky chart for your location at any time and date you choose.

Mona, thanks for this information, we saw a couple of planets near the moon in the western sky at sunset a few days ago.

Susan, that would have been Venus and Jupiter that you saw. I was seeing them near the moon when I left work - the best was when the Moon was a crescent. I found it hard to stop gawping and make my way to the station!

Thanks for this news, Mona. This is way cool!!

This is great info, Mona, thanks. Last night on the way home from the California/Nevada border my brother and I saw two very very bright planets in a clear sky -- Jupiter and Venus! They were brilliant !

Jupiter and Venus are still getting closer together - in the sky, not in reality! Lots of pictures of this stunning sight, but here's my favorite. If you wonder how close the two planets are, it seems as close together as a cat's ears.
(photo: Richard Fleet)

LOL Mona, I saw these stars in the sky the other night and wondered which they were. Now I know and thank you Cat for the accurate measurements. Off to have another look now I know what I am looking at. Thanks Mona.

A few weeks ago it looked really cool out with the crescent moon.

Vi, the crescent moon is back. I saw Venus, Jupiter and the crescent moon (with earthshine) last night. It looked like this. The moon should be near Jupiter tonight and nearer to Venus tomorrow. Have a look westwards after sunset.

I have really been enjoying the night sky this month! Love it!