Latest news with #morning sky
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Six-planet ‘parade' puts Venus, Jupiter and Mercury in rare morning lineup
Six planets will appear together in the morning sky this month, marking the final 'planetary parade' of the year, according to NASA. The phenomenon happens when multiple planets seem to align from Earth's perspective, creating a line across the night or early morning sky. These events typically occur at least once a year, but the number of visible planets changes each time. In January, six planets were visible, and in February, all eight planets of the solar system appeared — though some required binoculars or a telescope to see. This month, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury can be spotted without any equipment, with the best viewing opportunities over the next week. Uranus and Neptune will also be in the lineup, but they can only be seen with binoculars or a telescope. Earlier this week, Jupiter and Venus passed very close to each other and are still positioned near one another in the eastern sky — 'close together like cat's eyes,' said Carolyn Sumners of the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The best viewing time is shortly before sunrise, looking toward the east. Jupiter and Venus will appear near each other, Saturn will be farther to the side, and Mercury will be low near the horizon. Mercury will reach its farthest point from the sun on Tuesday morning, making it easier to spot before it disappears into the sun's glare later in the month. 'You're looking for little tiny pinpoints of light, but they are the brightest ones,' said Justin Bartel with the Science Museum of Virginia. 'They don't really twinkle like the stars do.' NASA recommends finding a spot with a clear, cloudless sky and an unobstructed view, away from tall buildings or other structures. Toward the end of the month, Mercury will move behind the sun, but a crescent moon will join the lineup. The next major planetary grouping will happen in February. Solve the daily Crossword
The Guardian
04-08-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Starwatch: Prepare for a pre-dawn Venus at its peak
August is another bright sky month in the northern hemisphere so we're having to look for late night and early morning events featuring bright celestial objects. Luckily, Venus has us covered. The planet reaches its highest altitude in the morning sky this month, rising more than three hours earlier than the Sun at mid-northern latitudes and shining brilliantly in the eastern sky. This week, the planet is located in the constellation of Gemini, the Twins. It will be unmistakably bright, shining with an apparent magnitude of –4, making it brighter than everything else in the sky, except the Sun and the moon. This will mean it is visible even from the most light-polluted urban environments. If you have a small telescope to hand, the crescent phase of Venus will be clearly visible – but stop observing before sunrise, as even a glimpse of the Sun through a telescope can cause permanent eye damage. Observers in the southern hemisphere can also enjoy Venus in the early morning, but it will appear lower on the eastern horizon. Thankfully, its dazzling brightness should still make it obvious. The chart is a heads up for next week. On 12 August, Venus and Jupiter will meet in the pre-dawn skies. The chart shows the view looking east from London at 5am BST.
