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A Picture of the Northern Hemisphere, with Current Planets [not updated 12-2012]

Note: As of December 2012 this page's design and content are being revised, so the planet's positions are not accurate

This is the actual map used by NASA Astronauts for Space Shuttle navigation. OK, maybe not, but it is a simple reference to the current location of some visible planets, visible from the Northern Hemisphere. At present (12-2012), it does not identify stars or constellations. Only Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and Mars appear; Mercury, and the Sun may be on future versions. It is updated monthly, and links will be provided for more detailed astronomical information.

Although the Astronauts have a clear view of all space, the rest of us can only see that part of the sky which is not hidden by Earth. As we move through space, the view changes. The map shows more than is visible above the horizon. The blue ring is the Ecliptic, the path taken by the moving planets. The area inside the gold ellipse is the the part of the sky visible at about 11:00 PM. (The visible area is approximate; it will vary depending on the date and time of day). The faint gray lines help to organize the stars into their traditional constellations.

Jupiter and Saturn hardly move, but Venus and Mars move clockwise in the arcs.