Dont fall off the edge, 6 planets

[Guest guest]

This evening, at about half an hour after sunset I was looking at the

six planets. ( 5 the astronomers say : )

A Planetary Conjunction for the Ages

Our evening sky holds the finest planetary gathering for more than 20

years. In May 2000 the planets were also grouped closely in the sky,

but the event occurred in daylight. This year holds a vastly

different story. Mercury will whet observers’ appetites as it swings

up from the sun to meet Saturn and Mars. But Venus, Saturn, and Mars

provide the main feast as they lie within a 3° circle. Dessert comes

at month's end when Venus sits snugly next to Jupiter — just 3°

apart. The brilliant pair will draw great attention.

A fine crescent moon adds to the celestial feast on May 13 when it

lies just under six moon-widths (3°) to the left of Mercury.

Unfortunately, Mercury will be faint and it requires binoculars or a

telescope to spot its 2nd-magnitude glow. For your best chance to see

it, try about 30 minutes before moonset along a clear, flat western

horizon. May 13 also represents the date that all five planets are

minimally separated. They are strung along a 33°-long arc of the

ecliptic. With the planets lined up so nicely, it serves as an

opportune time to both demonstrate and visualize how the solar system

moves along the ecliptic plane. The moon skips along the ecliptic for

the next night’s encounter with our sister planet, Venus. On May 14

the crescent moon slides three moon-widths south of the “evening

star,” which itself stands 2.4° above Mars. On the same day, the moon

occults Saturn, Mars, and Venus during daylight for limited regions of

the planet. On the following night, May 15, the moon has jumped midway

between Venus and Jupiter. The gas giant remains high in the sky among

the stars of Gemini the Twins. Meanwhile, only 6.2° separate the moon

and Jupiter. On the next evening, May 16, the moon lies 7° east of

the giant planet. Asian and Australian observers will see Jupiter and

the moon closer together. Venus continues to move along the ecliptic

and on May 25 sits midway between Jupiter and Mars.

http://www.astronomy.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/000/841lknlu.asp

Alan