The planets
In September, most of the bright planets lie low to the horizon. Jupiter, Saturn and Mars spend the month scraping along barely rising above 16º in altitude. They are, however, dazzling enough to shine through the evening twilight. Venus is best seen during the day, its luminosity a saving grace. Uranus and Neptune fare better, the latter reaching opposition on 7 September. Mercury also puts in a creditable effort, starting September bright and well positioned, rising more than an hour before sunrise, but moves closer to the Sun as the month goes on.
Through October, November and eventually December the bright planets continue to confound. Jupiter moves closer to the Sun, until by the end of November it is in conjunction, remaining out of visibility until mid-January. Venus is lost to the Sun as October progresses and re-emerges as a morning object by mid-November, remaining that way into early spring. Saturn is lost behind the Sun by mid-November also, while the best time to see Mercury is mid-December.
For planetary observers it’s really Mars, Uranus and Neptune that are the saving graces of the winter. Despite progressively dimming and reducing in size these three planets at least remain at a high altitude; they’re best seen after sunset in the southwest before midnight.
With the turn of the New Year, Jupiter rallies a little to make a return as a morning object, closely accompanied by Venus. The largest planet in the Solar System is best seen in early January, but even then doesn’t attain much height before sunrise. By mid-February, Saturn has reappeared as a morning object too, and both gas giants rise before Venus throughout March. The spring evenings continue to host Mars, Uranus and Neptune, with the Red Planet becoming progressively smaller and dimmer, but gaining altitude from January to March. Mercury meanwhile, is best seen at the end of February, shortly after sunset, low to the western horizon.