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late night, and Uranus after midnight. As for Jupiter, it'll be out all night long. When Jupiter shines low in the west during the wee hours before sunrise, look for the morning planets - the ringed planet Saturn, Venus and Mercury - to light up the southeast sky. Saturn rises first, followed by Venus and then Mercury. Early December presents the best time of the month to catch Venus, the sky's brightest planet, and Mercury, the innermost planet, in the predawn darkness or early dawn. Whereas Venus and Mercury fall toward the glare of morning twilight throughout the month, Saturn climbs away from it, rising several hours before dawn by the end of the month.
• You don't have to stay up all night to view all the planets. The four evening planets - Mars, Neptune, Uranus and

Jupiter - can be viewed at nightfall, and all three morning planets - Saturn, Venus and Mercury - are visible some 90 to 60 minutes before sunup. As darkness starts to give way to dawn, look for Saturn, Venus and Mercury in the southeast sky.
• Take advantage of these December 2012 nights to see every planet of our solar system!