Two planets, Venus and Mars are in the western sky at the close of the year 2016. The easiest and brightest is Venus, hovering high in the southwestern sky. Venus is up for several hours after sunset. This week the planet is a reminder of the Star of Bethlehem. Its brilliance against the black satin sky is dramatic and this scene will continue nightly into the New Year.

Look slightly up and to the left of Venus and the red planet Mars shines. Mars appears as a dull red, compared to how it was earlier this year. Mars and Venus will get closer in the new month. The two stars are in the zodiacal constellation Capricornus.

Are you missing Saturn? Saturn was a big part of our summer and now it is gone. Saturn was in the southwestern sky for much of autumn and it is about to begin appearing in the early morning sky. Saturn could be visible close to the horizon before sunrise in the last mornings of the New Year. But expect a much better view of this favorite later in January.

Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, is doing well as a morning planet. Jupiter rises in the eastern sky well after midnight and it commands attention. Jupiter is the second brightest planet in the solar system and easy to spot. Jupiter outshines all the stars where it resides in the zodiacal constellation Virgo.