See 6 planets earlier than dawn
Possibly you’ve already seen Jupiter and Mars within the morning sky? They’re simply now coming off their conjunction in mid-August, when these two brilliant worlds swept shut collectively earlier than daybreak. You might need noticed Saturn, too, farther to the west. The ringed planet is almost at its brightest now, heading for opposition – when Earth will move between Saturn and the sun – on September 8. Then, in late August, Mercury creeps away from the sun. So that you would possibly catch a glimpse of it earlier than dawn, too. With dim Uranus and Neptune between Jupiter and Saturn, that makes six planets within the morning sky. Are you able to problem your self to identify all of them?
On the finish of August, Jupiter and Mars are in Taurus, coming off their huge conjunction on the 14th. Mars is headed out of Taurus towards Gemini, which it should cross into throughout early September. On August 27, a waning gibbous moon is close to Jupiter. By the following morning, the thinning moon has jumped forward of Mars.
Watch a 1-minute preview video of the 6 planets within the morning sky.
Then, by September 1, the super-slender, outdated waning crescent moon will assist you discover Mercury. On that date, the closest planet to the sun will seem beside the moon in Leo the Lion.
From then on, the moon can be out of the scene. On September 9, Mercury can be lower than a level from Regulus, the brightest star in Leo.
Now let’s discover the three outermost planets. …
Saturn, Uranus and Neptune
Saturn is straightforward to identify. The ringed planet is within the constellation Aquarius within the western sky. The subsequent two are a little bit of a problem.
Neptune is considerably near Saturn. Whereas the sky remains to be darkish, search for the Circlet of Pisces standing above Saturn close to the western horizon. Neptune is subsequent to the Circlet. You’ll need optical assist – binoculars or a telescope – and a star chart. For a exact view out of your location to assist in looking down Neptune, strive Stellarium.
Uranus is a bit brighter than Neptune, however nonetheless a check of your observing abilities. Did you notice it subsequent to Mars again on July 15? Then you already know what you’re on the lookout for! If not, it’d seem as a bluish-green disk whenever you lastly discover it with optical assist. Uranus is at the moment in Taurus. It’s a bit greater than 5 degrees, or three fingers held at arm’s size, from the Pleiades star cluster. You’ll additionally need to use Stellarium to assist observe it down.
Late August chart
Backside line: Do you need to see 6 planets directly? Get up earlier than dawn and begin looking! Mars, Jupiter and Saturn can be simple. The moon would possibly assist you discover Mercury. Uranus and Neptune will check your observing powers. Problem your self: you are able to do it!
