Relax, it's only April
I tell them all the same thing: "Relax, it's only April."
The planets are indeed converging in the western sky this month. Just after sunset you can spot Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn and Jupiter -- the five brightest planets -- in a line stretching upwards from the western horizon half-way to overhead. It's a pleasing sight.
Right: Four planets and the Moon over San Diego, CA, on April 14, 2002. Credit: Dennis Mammana.
But the best is yet to come ... in May.
That's when Mercury, Venus, Mars and Saturn will form an eye-catching cluster in the constellation Taurus. Jupiter will hover above them in Gemini, just one constellation away. No binoculars or telescopes are required to see them. All you need are your eyes and a clear view of the western horizon.
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Sky watchers who dash outside just after sunset
I plan to go outside every night after dinner between May 1st and
The planets will begin to disperse during the second week of May. Mercury and Saturn will move toward the Sun where they will disappear from view -- Mercury first, then Saturn by month's end. Venus will move in the opposite direction, away from the Sun and toward Jupiter. Those two bright planets are destined for a dazzling close encounter in early June, but that's another story.
On
Another date to remember is
Below: A crescent Moon with Earthshine on April 14, 2002. Credit: Sal Viviano. [more]
Why so long?
Two of the five brightest planets (Venus and Mercury) are always close to the Sun, which means that a gathering of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn can only happen if the Sun is nearby. Usually our glaring star spoils the show. Indeed, that's exactly what happened two years ago on May 5, 2000, when the same 5 planets bunched together with the Sun in the middle. No one could see a thing. The next time they converge far enough from the Sun to be seen as easily as we can see them in May 2002, the date will be July 2060.
So relax, it's only April. Just don't miss May.
The Planets in 2002: A Rare Dance of Planets (Sky & Telescope); A Bonanza for Planet Watchers (Abrams Planetarium);
These sky maps show the appearance of the western sky after sunset from mid-northern latitudes:
What about the Southern Hemisphere? The planets are aligning there, too, but the tight trio of Saturn, Venus and Mars is closer to the horizon when the Sun sets in early May. The gathering is harder (but not impossible) to see south of the equator.
Above: The five brightest planets gathered together two years ago, too. But the Sun spoiled the view. This extraordinary coronagraph image comes from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory. The blue disk in the middle blocks the glare of the Sun (denoted by a white circle) and reveals Mercury, Venus, Saturn and Jupiter. Mars is just outside the image's field of view. [more]
Earthshine -- (Science@NASA) Northern spring is the best time to spot one of the loveliest sights in the heavens: Earthlight reflected from the Moon.
2002 Spring Planets Gallery -- from SpaceWeather.com
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