PLANET OF THE MONTH
CONJUNCTION JUPITER, VENUS, MARS AND SATURN
Usually we take a close look at a single planet that's particularly well-placed for observation, or is unusually bright, but this month we're going to look forward to a parade of planets that will be visible in the sky. It's not rare for a couple of planets to appear to meet in the sky. Groupings of more than two planets happen occasionally, but sometimes Earth and the other planets align in such a way that we can see a larger number of them spread out across the sky in a line. This is what will happen in the middle of April. As dawn approaches, Saturn, Mars, Venus and Jupiter will rise one after another in quick succession, forming a chain of worlds spread out from the east to the southeast.
All will be visible to the naked eye, but the sky will already be starting to brighten as Saturn rises. By the time Jupiter rises and they are all above the horizon, sunrise will be only half an hour away, so the full quartet will not be a striking sight. To see this planetary parade, you'll need a very flat and very low eastern horizon; the planets will all be so low in the sky before sunrise that if there are any trees, buildings or hills on your skyline in that direction they will hide the planets from your view, as will any low banks of cloud.
Denne historien er fra Issue 128-utgaven av All About Space.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra Issue 128-utgaven av All About Space.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
15 AUTUMN STARGAZING TARGETS
Go on a night-sky treasure hunt as the brighter evenings give way to the cooler months
MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE WHY IS VENUS SO DRY?
A new study reckons the answer lies high in the Venusian atmosphere
WHEN BLACK HOLES TURN WHITE
Can bouncing black holes help physicists find the ultimate theory of everything?
THE MOON'S THIN ATMOSPHERE IS MADE BY CONSTANT METEORITE BOMBARDMENT
While the solar wind also contributes to the atmosphere, meteorites are the main culprit
INTERSTELLAR TRAVEL AND HOW TO BECOME A SPACE TOURIST
Having explored much of the Solar System, attention is now turning to the stars beyond
NASA'S PERSEVERANCE ROVER FINDS POSSIBLE SIGNS OF ANCIENT RED PLANET LIFE
Further analysis is needed, but a rock contains potential evidence that life once existed on Mars in the distant past
A NASA TELESCOPE MAY HAVE FOUND ANTIMATTER ANNIHILATING IN POSSIBLY THE BIGGEST EXPLOSION SINCE THE BIG BANG
The massive explosion was captured in 2022
Jameel Janjua "This is how we get to Mach 3”
Jameel Janjua made it to the bitter end in a Canadian government astronaut selection in 2009, but wasn't chosen. He found a different path to space through Virgin Galactic
BOEING NEEDS TO IMPROVE QUALITY CONTROL ON THE SLS MOON ROCKET
The NASA Inspector General's report finds serious quality-control issues affecting the upgraded version and expects cost overruns and delays
DARK ENERGY
THE MOST DOMINANT FORCE IN THE UNIVERSE IS ALSO ITS MOST MYSTERIOUS AND MOST UNANTICIPATED