Lots to see in the skies!

While we astronomers are still waiting with bated breath to see if Comet Swan is going to live up to expectations in a couple of weeks, there's still lots going on in the night skies (assuming you don't mind an early start!)

Immediately after sunset, if you have a clear western horizon, you can see the two innermost planets Mercury and Venus. Venus is lower now, but still very bright: Mercury sets just after the Sun, so is harder to pick out. It's below and to the north (right!) of Venus: our 'twin planet' (in size only) is nearly at its closest to Earth and appears as a waning crescent, just below the bright star Capella.

Just before dawn you can see Mars, Saturn and Jupiter in the south east: this morning the Moon was near them, making Mars harder to pick out: tomorrow, if clear, should be excellent