'Fab Five' Make Rare Appearance in Night Sky

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/features/fabfive.cfm

'Fab Five' Make Rare Appearance in Night Sky
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Media contact: Whitney Clavin (818) 354-5011
March 19, 2004

Like a busy urban family, planets rarely get together all at once.
Later this month, however, the five so-called naked-eye planets -
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn - will reunite in the night
sky, giving spectators a unique chance to see Earth's closest
companions in one easy sitting.The gathering will be visible every
night for an hour after sunset, beginning around March 22 and lasting
about two weeks. While other opportunities to catch a five-planet
rendezvous will take place in the next few years, both at dawn and
dusk, this one is not to be missed.

"This particular planetary grouping will quite possibly offer the best
nighttime views until 2036," says Dr. Myles Standish, an astronomer at
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

For early risers, there will be another chance to see all five
naked-eye planets together just before sunrise in December of this
year and early January 2005.

Since ancient times, the naked-eye planets have intrigued and inspired
onlookers all over the world. But only sporadically, usually every few
years or so, do their orbits take them to the same side of the Sun.
When this happens, the planets stretch across the morning or evening
skies depending on which side of the Sun they reside. More rare are
planetary alignments in which the five planets assemble in a very
small corner of the sky.

"Every so often the five visible planets will collect on one side of
the Sun," says Standish. "Only when conditions are right, will they
all be clearly visible at either dusk or dawn."

The Details

To catch the planetary get-together, you'll need a good view of the
sky, free of buildings and bright city lights (you should still be
able to see the planets through urban light pollution). The show
begins around March 22 and lasts through early April, when Mercury
fades from sight. The finest views will take place during the last 8
to 10 days of March.

Begin by looking to the western horizon each evening just after
sunset. Seated in a row up and across the sky will be Mercury, Venus,
Mars and Saturn. Saturn will lie almost directly overhead. Following
the line of the planets, Jupiter will be close to the eastern horizon.
Together, the planets will span about 135 degrees. About an hour after
dusk, Mercury will dip below the western horizon.

The Moon will also be attending the festivities, mingling through the
planets in an orderly fashion. On March 22, it will take a seat next
to Mercury, and then climbing up the night sky, it will end its tour
on April 1 right above mighty Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar
system. As the Moon slides from planet to planet, it will grow in size
from a slender crescent to a nearly full circle of white.

Note that Venus is currently brighter than usual because of where it
lies in relation to Earth and the Sun.

The Moon and planets will appear to follow nearly the same path
through the stars. This is because their orbits around the Sun occupy
planes that are close to that of Earth's orbit. The plane Earth moves
in is called the ecliptic.

If for some reason you miss the "Fab Five," another set of orbiting
bodies will soon make a grand debut. In April and May of this year,
two naked-eye comets, C/2001 Q4 and C/2002 T7, will grace the twilight
skies. To spot the cosmic balls of dust and ice look to the west at
dusk or dawn. A pair of binoculars will help to initially locate the
comets because they may be slightly washed out by the Sun. On May 12
to 16 look out for a mini-reunion with the naked-eye planets, when
comet C/2001 Q4 lines up with Venus, Mars, Saturn and Jupiter.

On 19 Mar 2004 13:49:09 -0800, (Ron) wrote:

Like a busy urban family, planets rarely get together all at once.
Later this month, however, the five so-called naked-eye planets -
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn - will reunite in the night
sky, giving spectators a unique chance to see Earth's closest
companions in one easy sitting.The gathering will be visible every
night for an hour after sunset, beginning around March 22 and lasting
about two weeks. While other opportunities to catch a five-planet
rendezvous will take place in the next few years, both at dawn and
dusk, this one is not to be missed.

This gathering was perfectly visible last night, too. No need to wait until the
22nd. Mercury will get higher, but it is well above the horizon even now.

_________________________________________________

Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com

Ron wrote:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/features/fabfive.cfm

'Fab Five' Make Rare Appearance in Night Sky
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Media contact: Whitney Clavin (818) 354-5011
March 19, 2004

Like a busy urban family, planets rarely get together all at once.
Later this month, however, the five so-called naked-eye planets -
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn - will reunite in the night
sky, giving spectators a unique chance to see Earth's closest
companions in one easy sitting.

Not if the FCC gets its way.

"Anthony Mandic" wrote in message
...
Ron wrote:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/features/fabfive.cfm

Like a busy urban family, planets rarely get together all at once.
Later this month, however, the five so-called naked-eye planets -
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn - will reunite in the night
sky, giving spectators a unique chance to see Earth's closest
companions in one easy sitting.

Not if the FCC gets its way.

because...? Sorry... if this is some sort of witty sarcasm, it was lost on
me.

Kilolani wrote:
"Anthony Mandic" wrote in message
...
Ron wrote:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/features/fabfive.cfm

Like a busy urban family, planets rarely get together all at once.
Later this month, however, the five so-called naked-eye planets -
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn - will reunite in the night
sky, giving spectators a unique chance to see Earth's closest
companions in one easy sitting.

Not if the FCC gets its way.

because...? Sorry... if this is some sort of witty sarcasm, it was lost on
me.

Heh-heh-heh, Ron said 'naked.'

"Bula Greth" wrote in message
...
Kilolani wrote:
"Anthony Mandic" wrote in message
...
Ron wrote:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/features/fabfive.cfm

Like a busy urban family, planets rarely get together all at
once.
Later this month, however, the five so-called naked-eye
planets -
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn - will reunite in the
night
sky, giving spectators a unique chance to see Earth's closest
companions in one easy sitting.

Not if the FCC gets its way.

because...? Sorry... if this is some sort of witty sarcasm, it was
lost on
me.

Heh-heh-heh, Ron said 'naked.'

I Really Love you people! G

Darla

On Sat, 20 Mar 2004 08:08:20 GMT, "Kilolani"
wrote:

"Anthony Mandic" wrote in message
...
Ron wrote:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/features/fabfive.cfm

Like a busy urban family, planets rarely get together all at once.
Later this month, however, the five so-called naked-eye planets -
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn - will reunite in the night
sky, giving spectators a unique chance to see Earth's closest
companions in one easy sitting.

Not if the FCC gets its way.

because...? Sorry... if this is some sort of witty sarcasm, it was lost on
me.

Whaddya mean it was lost on youz? Are youz some kind of slow-witted
retard?

"Anthony Mandic" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 20 Mar 2004 08:08:20 GMT, "Kilolani"
wrote:

"Anthony Mandic" wrote in message
...
Ron wrote:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/features/fabfive.cfm

Like a busy urban family, planets rarely get together all at once.
Later this month, however, the five so-called naked-eye planets -
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn - will reunite in the
night
sky, giving spectators a unique chance to see Earth's closest
companions in one easy sitting.

Not if the FCC gets its way.

because...? Sorry... if this is some sort of witty sarcasm, it was lost
on
me.

Whaddya mean it was lost on youz? Are youz some kind of slow-witted
retard?

Hey! I resemble dat remoik! nyuck, nyuck, nyuck.