Venus, Mars, & Saturn

Three planets easily visible tonight in the western sky.  In you're in the Hudson Valley area, go outside tonight between 8:30 - 9:00 pm (when it gets dark enough to start seeing stars) and look due west.  The brightest "star" just above the horizon (hold your arm outstretched and make a fist - the "star" will be about one fist width above the horizon) is the planet Venus.

Facing west at 9:00 pm EDT.  See the triangle?

Just to the left a Venus, and a bit higher, are Saturn and Mars next to each other (Mars lower and with a reddish tint).  The three planets form a narrow triangle pointing down and to the right.

I'm teaching Observational Astronomy this fall if anyone's interested.