Mercury

• Mercury is the planet closest to our sun.Ablestock.com/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
  
  Mercury is the most difficult to spot of the five bright planets. It is most often visible near sunset in the western sky when viewed from the northern hemisphere. It can be hard to spot, since it tends to stay close to the sun. It is best viewed in late March or early April. It appears to twinkle more than most planets, probably due to its proximity to the horizon. Mercury appears as a white light.
  
  

Venus

• Venus is a bright light in the sky.Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images
  
  Venus is also known as the "morning star," and as this name suggests, this planet is more often viewed in the early mornings. In October and November, however it becomes visible in the western sky at dusk. Venus may be viewed in the evenings in December, appearing like the Star of the Magi in the western sky, and is often called the "Evening Star" at this time. Venus is the brightest planet in the sky and is brighter than any star. It appears white or whitish blue.
  
  

Mars

• Dust storms on Mars can cause it to look even more yellow, and it rarely actually appears to be red from Earth.Ablestock.com/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
  
  Mars has a highly eccentric orbit. Some years it is visible in the evenings, but during others, like 2011, the earliest sighting will be at 11 p.m., with most of its appearances in the early morning hours. Mars is often called "The Red Planet," but it usually appears as a rusty-orange or orange-yellow.
  
  

Jupiter

• Jupiter has distinctive bands of clouds above and below the equator. It is a prominent member of the night sky.Ablestock.com/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
  
  Jupiter rises earlier and earlier throughout the year. It is visible in the evenings in the fall, but appears in the night skies for the rest of the year. Jupiter is second in brightness only to Venus. It appears as a creamy white, and the cloud belts and moons of Jupiter are visible with binoculars or a small telescope.
  
  

Saturn

• Saturn is sometimes visible from dusk through the evening and all the way to sunrise. Best viewing times are in the spring and early summer. Even the rings are visible with binoculars or a small telescope.