geomancer
05-30-2010, 05:51 AM
washingtonpost.com (https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/29/AR2010052903285.html?wpisrc=nl_cuzhead)
Skywatch: Saturn, Mars and Venus tear up the dance floor
By Blaine P. Friedlander jr.
Special to The Washington Post
Sunday, May 30, 2010; C10
In the waning days of spring, we look forward to some summer planetary folk dancing: Saturn, Mars and Venus form a trio of ever-changing configuration.
These planets spend the month of June getting close. In July and August, the planets change formation radically. As dusk falls now, find the ringed planet Saturn very high in the south-southwest, Mars hangs lower to the west and Venus -- in the west -- stays closest to the horizon. Venus, as usual, remains effervescent at a negative fourth magnitude (very bright) throughout the month. Saturn and Mars are substantially dimmer than Venus, as both planets are first magnitude.
By mid-June the planets will be noticeably closer, yet still in the familiar pecking order of early June. An interloper appears -- that is a young moon -- on June 14, turning the trio into a quartet. Over the next week, the moon appears to follow along the ecliptic, wedged between Venus and Mars (June 15/16) and then Mars and Saturn (June 17/18).
This trio spends the rest of June getting closer, and then dancing through July and August.
Jupiter rises before 3 a.m. early in June, in the east-southeast, and remains up until the sunrise light washes the planet away. It should be easy to spot, because it is a negative second magnitude (very bright) object. By mid-month, the planet rises about 45 minutes earlier, and when June ends, this large gassy planet rises around 1 a.m.
From the Eastern time zone of the United States, you will not be able to see the partial lunar eclipse on the morning of June 26, since by the time of the eclipse, the moon will have set. If you wish to see it, make plans to go west.
Skywatch: Saturn, Mars and Venus tear up the dance floor
By Blaine P. Friedlander jr.
Special to The Washington Post
Sunday, May 30, 2010; C10
In the waning days of spring, we look forward to some summer planetary folk dancing: Saturn, Mars and Venus form a trio of ever-changing configuration.
These planets spend the month of June getting close. In July and August, the planets change formation radically. As dusk falls now, find the ringed planet Saturn very high in the south-southwest, Mars hangs lower to the west and Venus -- in the west -- stays closest to the horizon. Venus, as usual, remains effervescent at a negative fourth magnitude (very bright) throughout the month. Saturn and Mars are substantially dimmer than Venus, as both planets are first magnitude.
By mid-June the planets will be noticeably closer, yet still in the familiar pecking order of early June. An interloper appears -- that is a young moon -- on June 14, turning the trio into a quartet. Over the next week, the moon appears to follow along the ecliptic, wedged between Venus and Mars (June 15/16) and then Mars and Saturn (June 17/18).
This trio spends the rest of June getting closer, and then dancing through July and August.
Jupiter rises before 3 a.m. early in June, in the east-southeast, and remains up until the sunrise light washes the planet away. It should be easy to spot, because it is a negative second magnitude (very bright) object. By mid-month, the planet rises about 45 minutes earlier, and when June ends, this large gassy planet rises around 1 a.m.
From the Eastern time zone of the United States, you will not be able to see the partial lunar eclipse on the morning of June 26, since by the time of the eclipse, the moon will have set. If you wish to see it, make plans to go west.