Top 5 Most Recent Articles
Top 5 Most Popular Articles
HIGHLIGHTS by Tony Flanders
The May-June 2013 Planet Dance
A remarkable series of events takes place low in the west-northwest shortly after sunset from late May to late June. It features the tightest three-planet grouping visible without binoculars until 2026 and an excellent apparition of Mercury.
Venus and Jupiter, the two brightest planets, have been approaching each other all month. Mercury, currently the third-brightest planet, becomes visible to Venus's lower right around May 19th. It appears closer to Venus each evening until May 24th, when it's just 1⅓° upper right of Venus.
From May 24th to 29th, Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury all fit within a 5° circle. That means that you can view all three at the same time with most hand-held binoculars.
The grouping is tightest on May 26th, when all three planets fit in a 2½° circle. Jupiter appears right next to Venus on the 27th, and after that it slowly pulls down and right of Venus, disappearing from view in early June.
But Mercury is only now entering the prime evenings of this apparition, soaring ever higher above Venus until June 7th, when it slowly begins to sink back toward Venus. But as always during an evening apparition, Mercury is beginning to fade — slowly at first but increasingly rapidly after mid-June.
Mercury was nearly as bright as Jupiter at the beginning of this apparition, but it has faded tenfold by June 20th, appearing no brighter than the stars Castor and Pollux above it.
Watch an animation of the entire amazing three-planet conjunction:
From May 24th to 29th, Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury all fit within a 5° circle. That means that you can view all three at the same time with most hand-held binoculars.
Click above to watch an animation of the planets and stars from May 20th to June 20th.
But Mercury is only now entering the prime evenings of this apparition, soaring ever higher above Venus until June 7th, when it slowly begins to sink back toward Venus. But as always during an evening apparition, Mercury is beginning to fade — slowly at first but increasingly rapidly after mid-June.
Mercury was nearly as bright as Jupiter at the beginning of this apparition, but it has faded tenfold by June 20th, appearing no brighter than the stars Castor and Pollux above it.
Watch an animation of the entire amazing three-planet conjunction:
Posted by Tony Flanders, February 21, 2013
The following comments do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Sky Publishing.
By posting a comment, you agree to our Rules of Conduct and Terms of Use.
By posting a comment, you agree to our Rules of Conduct and Terms of Use.
all comments (1 total)
Planet Dance Info
Posted by Tom Hoffelder
May 18, 2013 At 07:19 AM PDT
Most (maybe all?) who read the above article/view the video know the relative brightness of the objects involved and just how high (or low) 5 degrees measures above the horizon. For the few (if any) who may not know: 1) During the few days the planets are closest Venus will be 6 times brighter than Jupiter, Jupiter will be 2.5 time brighter than Mercury and Mercury will be 9 times brighter than the star Elnath. 2) 10 degrees is the height of your fist held at arm's length, which means the grouping is only half that high 40 minutes after sunset.
|
|
|
||
|
|
Date:
|
Other links: + digg | + reddit | + del.icio.us | + rss
comments (1)