What's Up in the Sky: Things are looking up Peter Burkey With all the safety precautions, vaccine news, and conflict over COVID-19, it’s nice to think about a truly non-partisan topic, and astronomy is just that. Most people simply enjoy the night sky without arguing about it. This month offers a number of opportunities to enjoy some peaceful time. Let’s begin with some planetary observing. Venus and Mercury are visible near the western horizon after sunset with Mars higher above them. Jupiter and Saturn are visible in the southeastern pre-dawn skies, and with sunrise occurring after 6:00 a.m., it is not that difficult to see them if you are an early riser.