Planet Spectacular

Posted by: Mike-B on 09 March 2012

I guess most folks have spotted the spectacular evening sky with the very bright Venus & Jupiter close together.  In addition you can now see all of the 5 "visible" planets during one night - a rare event.

Mercury is the tough one, very low down in the west just after dark for those with a long low horizon, easy to find if you follow the line of Venus & Jupiter down to horizon.  Mars & Saturn  are easy later in the evening to the east. 

Top Tip  -  Saturns rings are at their best viewing at the moment   even thru reasonably good bino's

 

Attached link is an easy to understand guide where to look. Unforutunaty some of the guides using the moon are now out of date, but the planets will be in the same place in the sky even tho' the moon has moved. 

 

http://earthsky.org/astronomy-...venus-saturn-mercury

Posted on: 09 March 2012 by TomK

Thanks Mike. I'll check this over the weekend. No doubt Venus and Jupiter have been spectacular recently.

Posted on: 09 March 2012 by tonym

I spotted Venus and Jupiter the other night & it took a few seconds' staring before I realised they weren't aircraft lights. Very bright and dramatic.

 

I'll look out fror Mercury tonight (assuming it's a clear night). Thanks for the tip Mike.

Posted on: 10 March 2012 by Julian H

This app for "would be stargazers" looks great for the fruit people among us!

 

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app...ive/id363486802?mt=8

Posted on: 10 March 2012 by tonym

I've got that on my iPad Julian. It's excellent & makes it very easy to identify the stars & planets.

Posted on: 10 March 2012 by Julian H

Mornin' Tony

 

It looks great, just waiting for my gen3 to arrive and it will be the first app I download!

 

Cheers, J

Posted on: 10 March 2012 by tonym

Ha! So you've succumbed! You'll not regret it dear boy.

 

(It'd be a better morning if I didn't have to paint the outside of the house.)

Posted on: 10 March 2012 by Julian H

Just been holding off, but could not resist any more!

 

Hope your cutting in round the timber is up to scratch, I'll be up to inspect you know!