All five visible planets can be seen after sunset in late April/early May.
Mercury has its best evening star appearance of 2015 in the first half of the month, in Taurus. It stands left of the Pleiades on the 1st and is brightest for the first few days of the month.
Jupiter stands high in the southwest at dusk but sets before midnight. It stands above the waxing Moon on the 23rd.
The month belongs to Saturn, brighter than it has appeared in over a decade. It stands at opposition on the night of the 22nd, rising at dusk and remaining out all night long. Its rings are nearly as wide “open” as possible, a glorious sight through any telescope magnification above 30x.
http://www.almanac.com/astronomy/skywatch
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Body Rises Sets
Sun 5:55 A.M. 7:33 P.M.
Moon 6:21 P.M. 5:09 A.M.
Mercury 6:53 A.M. 9:17 P.M.
Venus 8:19 A.M. 11:02 P.M.
Mars 6:32 A.M. 8:27 P.M.
Jupiter 12:17 P.M. 2:06 A.M.
Saturn 9:01 P.M. 7:22 A.M.
Uranus 4:53 A.M. 5:33 P.M.
Neptune 3:14 A.M. 2:29 P.M.
Pluto 12:11 A.M. 10:16 A.M.
All times are Central Daylight Time at sea level.
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Body Rises Sets
Sun 5:42 A.M. 7:44 P.M.
Moon 4:45 A.M. 6:17 P.M.
Mercury 6:42 A.M. 9:09 P.M.
Venus 8:32 A.M. 11:15 P.M.
Mars 6:11 A.M. 8:20 P.M.
Jupiter 11:28 A.M. 1:15 A.M.
Saturn 8:02 P.M. 6:23 A.M.
Uranus 4:00 A.M. 4:41 P.M.
Neptune 2:20 A.M. 1:35 P.M.
Pluto 11:12 P.M. 9:20 A.M.
Mars is the hardest one to catch at present; it sets within an hour of the sun, before full night has fallen, and thus only a few degrees away from the Sun (Mars viewing was better in April). This elongation of Mercury is the best chance for viewing in the Northern hemisphere for a while; even many astronomers never catch a glimpse of Mercury, since it is seldom far from the sun, so now is probably your best chance if you've never seen Mercury. Both Mercury and Venus will pass near the Pleiades.
By the middle of the month, Saturn will be rising before Mars has set, so it might be possible to catch all five (naked-eye) planets in the sky at once IF both horizons are clear. 
Conveniently, the moon will be absent at the same time, so no Lunar glare to impair visibility! Venus is unmistakable, the brightest object in the sky on a moonless night. Jupiter is next brightest and unmistakably yellow. Even 7x35 binoculars are adequate to make out the Galilean moons as *tiny* pinpoints of light. Saturn rises later and so will be closer to the Eastern horizon, somewhat lighter yellow in color, and very bright. Mars will be very close to the setting Sun but recognizable by its red color. Look straight down at the Earth and you can bring your tally of planets sighted on the same night up to six, without a telescope !
Night-by-night previews at earthsky.org: http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury (click on the calendar listing on the upper right).
= new reply since forum marked as read
the little dipper all along has been the Pleiades. So at least maybe I'll be able to see Mercury and Venus.
I've been seeing Jupiter recently, but thought it was Venus. 
I really suck at the night sky, but not for lack of love or want of trying. I am able to see the milky way. It's like I can't see the leaves for the forest...
