An unusual arrangement of planets in the night sky
We have already written that this year begins with a beautiful constellation of planets. They started gathering in the night sky in the middle of last year, and now they are getting ready for the whole assembly.
By definition, that means that all, or almost all planets, are on the same side of the Sun, and it’s a really nice collection to look at.
Of course, if the night sky is clear. Some planets catch the eye with their brightness, and they can be seen with the naked eye. For others you will need good binoculars or even better a telescope.
First, look for Mercury because it is close to the Sun, so the period when it can be observed is short – after the Sun sets or in the morning before the Sun rises.
So, try to catch Mercury as soon as the Sun is behind the horizon.
Make sure you have a clear view of the horizon and with some persistence you will succeed. It shines at a magnitude of -1.08 these days, which is a nice glow.
Mercury reached a superior conjunction on February 9th which is bad news for observers as it means the planet (Mercury) is behind the Sun.
But that was on February 9th and now the situation is improving and one hour and a few minutes after the Sun sets below the horizon Mercury will still be in the sky.
Saturn is also near the horizon. It goes down around 6:30 p.m. these days. During the day we do not see it, and in the evening, it is already slowly lost in the haze over the horizon. It is 1.5 billion kilometers away from us, and it shines about 1.15 m.
Saturn is temporarily losing its rings this year (observed from Earth), so it is no longer so attractive to observe. Just as an extra fact, Saturn doesn’t actually lose the rings, but they align with the Earth, so we don’t look at them at an angle, and since they are very thin – we can’t see them. It’s not easy to see, but it’s there and worth trying.
Neptune is another challenge for observers. Look for a telescope or at least solid binoculars. Its magnitude is +7.9. If you are really interested, it is 4.6 billion kilometers away from us. It also sets soon, but it’s nice if you know how to find it and look at it.
Let Venus be your next target. It is also not far from the Sun, so it is also close to the horizon. But it is very bright, so you can see it even in the daytime. If you watch it through a telescope, you should be able to see the phase it is in.
Its magnitude is -4.83, and only the Sun and the Moon have a stronger glow than it.
Uranus is another big challenge. Yes, it is within the range of even the naked eye (5.74 m), but it is difficult to distinguish it among the stars. It is located below the Pleiades.
If that doesn’t help you, look for a sky map and it will tell you everything. And be sure to watch it with binoculars.
So, now it’s time to focus on the majestic Jupiter!
After Venus, the brightest body of night care (-2.36 m), the king among the planets. It is extremely important for the order of the planets, for the evolution of life on Earth and is interesting to observe because with a good telescope, and especially in photographs, you can see the stripes in its atmosphere and the big red spot that arouses the interest and imagination of the observer.
In addition, next to Jupiter, you will easily spot some of its four large, or Galilean, satellites that we have long wished to see up close.
And finally, there is Mars!
After Earth, Mars is probably the most interesting planet for mythological-historical-biological and all other reasons.
The red planet has always attracted attention. There is so much to say about Mars that it is not worth even starting the story.
