How to find planets?

[mbaddah (Mo)]

Hi everyone

Just recently purchased a 6" dobsonian and few ice pieces, was wondering what would be the best way of seeking out and viewing planets?

I have seen Jupiter few times by chance just randomly scanning the sky, but I want to know exactly how to find it and others such as mars, saturn etc.. Your help would be greatly appreciated thankyou.

[saberscorpx]

Planets generally hang out in the zodiac constellations. They're usually very bright and do not twinkle along with the rest of the stars.
Eventually we just get a feel for their locations.

Until then, Your Sky is a quick online reference.
Just enter a location, time, and object.

http://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky/

The news stand astromags and are another source for planetary data.
Plenty of astronomy software available as well.
Stellarium and CdC are popular downloads.


Happy hunting,
SJS

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

mbaddah has posted this same thread twice. Rather than have 2 sets of answers in different threads, go here: http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=25089

[mbaddah (Mo)]

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

mbaddah has posted this same thread twice. Rather than have 2 sets of answers in different threads, go here: http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=25089

Apologise for the double post was an accident

[mbaddah (Mo)]

Originally Posted by saberscorpx

Planets generally hang out in the zodiac constellations. They're usually very bright and do not twinkle along with the rest of the stars.
Eventually we just get a feel for their locations.

Until then, Your Sky is a quick online reference.
Just enter a location, time, and object.

http://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky/

The news stand astromags and are another source for planetary data.
Plenty of astronomy programs available to download as well.


Happy hunting,
SJS

Thanks for the link will test out tomorrow night