Naked Eye Astronomy
        planets and meteor showers visible without a telescope visible this month:  
   
                http://currentsky.com/planetwatch.html
        http://77illinois.homestead.com/files/astro/skypage.html 
     

Google Desktop Sky Chart:

http://desktop.google.com/plugins/i/skychart.html?hl=en

The FIRST science, naked eye astronomy, was first developed by Pagans beginning in the Old Stone Age, tens of thousands of years ago.  They used it to erect monuments, predict the annual flood of the Nile, choose times for planting, and navigate. To further develop astronomy/astrology, they developed mathematics and geometry.

Modern Pagans, whether they believe in astrology or not, still use naked eye astronomy for religious purposes: to attune themselves to the sacred cycle of the seasons, to schedule rituals, to develop scientific literacy, and just for fun!

From Night Sky Magazine: Backyard astronomy for everyone        What's Up Tonight?    Night Sky Home Page

The word "planet" comes from the Greek word meaning "wanderer" because they
appeared to wander through the constellations.  For the ancients, the seven planets were
Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. These were called the Seven Visible
Gods, and some believe that the 7 branched Jewish Mennorah  was derived from Chaldaen
worship of the Seven Visible Gods.

From the (geocentric) perspective of Earth, the planets (but not the Sun and Moon)
sometimes appear to go backwards; this is called retrograde motion Rx).

Mercury:     communications, versatility, intellect, skill, speech

Venus:        sensuality, beauty, feminine sexuality, pleasure
  
Mars:          energy, aggressiveness, masculine sexuality, justice
   
Jupiter:      expansion, generosity, dignity, professions, religion, philosophy
  
Saturn:      structure, service, limitations
 

The Outer Planets
are never visible without a telescope.

Uranus:    deep structural change

Neptune:   dreams, visions, and illusions; the unconscious

Pluto:   decay, rebirth
 

Meteor Showers
best viewed with the naked eye, after 15 minutes of accommodation to darkness.
All times Eastern STANDARD Time

Quadrantids	January 3-4	Northeast 4 - 6 am
Lyrids	April 21-22	Overhead 2 - 4 am
Eta Aquarids	May 4-5	Southeast 2 - 4 am
Delta Aquarids	July 28-29	South 1 - 3 am
Perseids	August 11-13	Northeast 2 - 4 am
Orionids	October 21-22	South 2 - 4 am
South Taurids	November 2-4	South 1 - 3 am
North Taurids	November 12-14	South 12 - 2 am
Leonids	November 17-18	S/SE  4 - 6 am
Geminids	December 13-14	Overhead 1 - 3 am
Ursids	December 22-23	North all night

Mars

Venus, Jupiter

Mars

Venus, Jupiter

Mars

Venus, Jupiter

Mars

Venus, Jupiter

Mars

Venus, Jupiter

Mars

Venus, Jupiter

Mars
 

Venus, Jupiter

Mars

Venus until early August, Jupiter, Saturn until early August

Mars, Saturn

Jupiter

Jupiter

Jupiter

Jupiter disappears for the year

For more details on naked eye astronomy: 

JH Star Gazer

Tonight's Sky Chart
 http://www.earthsky.org/skywatching/tsky.php?t=20060107
(for any date, make t=2007MODT  format)

Sunrise, Sunset, any location
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/

http://www.bisque.com/Thisweek/thisweek.asp

http://www.jackstargazer.com/Currentshowscripts.html

http://www.almanac.com/astronomy/moon/index.php

How and Why the Night Sky Changes with the Seasons 

http://stardate.org/nightsky/

understanding the ecliptic and the zodiac
http://www.space.com/spacewatch/ecliptic_030228.html

Sky stories: myths about the constellations
http://school.discovery.com/schooladventures/skywatch/stories/index.html

Terrestial Seasonal Phenomena

Track the Signs of Spring, Migrations, and More: 
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/current.html