Astronomy Buffs: Chance to see 5 planets at once now!

[TXlib]

For about an hour after sunset, you'll be able to see Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. You should be able to see it all this week; even after mercury disappears, you'll still be able to see the others for a while.

Mercury will be very low on the horizon; unless you're elevated, or are living in a plain, you may not be able to see it.

Then you'll see the moon above it. Then Venus, the second-brightest object after the moon. The line connecting Venus and the Moon rougly defines the plane of the ecliptic, where you'll see the other planets. After Venus, you'll see Mars, significantly dimmer than it was in August 2003. Above Mars, you'll see Saturn. To find Saturn, first find the constellation Orion; sight along the line connecting the left star of Orion's belt with Orion's left shoulder; Saturn will be along that line (about 1 - 1.5 x that angular distance) above Orion's left shoulder... it'll be the brightest object in the vicinity.

Last, along the ecliptic, on the other side of the zenith from the other planets, you'll find Jupiter. It will be very bright.

[Kolesar]

1. Tell me if you get to see Mercury

I have never seen it. I would need a clear western sky, instead I have a big city and light pollution

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2. I won't be able to.

Too much ground clutter.

All these planets will be bright enough that even in heavily light-polluted sky, you'll be able to see them.

[Kolesar]

3. There is a park near me that has bluffs and a view to the west.

What the heck, a sunset hike sounds like fun. I think the sun actually sets a little bit north of west (270 degrees), so that would be out over Lake Erie.

What magnitude is Mercury?

[TXlib]

4. It's currently at about a magnitude of -1.

It was at maximum brightness on 19 March 2004, at -1.1

[Kolesar]

5. Wow, that's bright

That would make it as bright as the brightest stars in view. Maybe in the top 20 list.

[wysimdnwyg]

6. I saw SIX Monday night!

In the east, I saw Jupiter(1). VERY hard to miss.

In the west, I found the moon, then directly above, I saw Venus(2). Also very hard to miss.

Above Venus, at about 10:30 (from Venus), I found Mars(3). Not as bright as Venus, but easily found.

About 9:30 from Mars, I found Saturn(4). Saturn was about as bright as Mars, maybe a tad brighter.

I had the hardest time with Mercury(5). It was about 4:00 from the moon, just over the horizon. I couldn't see it from my deck, as the neighbor's house was in the way. I was able to find it from my front walk, though. A bit dimmer than Mars, but it seemed as bright as the brightest star. And it was red and did not "twinkle" like stars do.

You're probably wondering about #6. So was I. Look down. (My Dad got me with that one.)

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8. Smartass.

[wysimdnwyg]

9. Why yes...

Yes, I am! :evilgrin:

[THUNDER HANDS]

7. this is the type of astronomy i like

The free kind.

Just look up into space and see the wonders of the universe.