From Deseret News archives:
Planetary treat awaits sky gazers
As the Denver Astronomical Society points out, before dawn the planets Mars, Mercury and Jupiter will be grouped within a 1 degree circle. Mercury, the smallest planet, will seem only 0.1 degree from Jupiter, the largest, the society adds on its Web site, www.denverastrosociety.org/events.html.
"Literally, they're going to appear so close together that even with a pair of binoculars, which shows you only a small corner of sky, you'll see three planets in the field of view," said Patrick Wiggins, NASA solar system ambassador to Utah and northern Nevada.
He said they should rise in the southeast around 7 a.m., and will be easiest to see as they rise. Once dawn is in full throttle, the brightening sky will wash out the view of the planets.
The best place to observe them is a location with a low, flat eastern horizon clear of trees, buildings and other obstructions, he said. Nobody alive has seen these three planets so close together, Wiggins said.
Wiggins said Mars may be difficult to see with the naked eye "because it's not that bright" and is a tiny planet.
The other two will be easier to spot, he sad. "Literally the last time this happened with these three planets was back during the American Civil War."
The date was Sept. 2, 1861, when the armies of the North and South were at each other's throats.
"It'll be a long time before it happens again," Wiggins said. In fact, he noted, the next time the three planets gather so closely will be in 2053, when he said he will be 104 years old. That doesn't faze him. "I plan on sticking around until 2061 so I can see (Comet) Halley again."
The apparent closeness of the planets is only an optical illusion, he said. They happen to be lining up in their orbits with our line of sight. In reality, Mars is four times as far away as Mercury, and Jupiter is four times as far away as Mars.
"They're not going to run into one another and have an 'astrological' nightmare," he joked.
From the west side of Salt Lake Valley, residents should see the planets rise together before dawn.
But from the valley's east side, people might not be able to see the trio. By the time the planets rise above the intervening mountains, "we'll be approaching sunrise," and the sky may be too bright, he said.
Another option is to drive to a place where the eastern horizon is flat or unobstructed. One way to do that would be to drive to Little Mountain east of Salt Lake City, where the view to the east is good.
While waiting for the three to rise, glance upward. Saturn will be close to the moon, high in the southwest, according to Wiggins.
E-mail: bau@desnews.com
Comments
- RSL's Movsisyan departs 8:16 p.m.
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust 8:13 p.m.
- Woman falls near Angel's Landing 7:58 p.m.
- People on the move 7:54 p.m.
- Salt Lake meeting and conventions 7:52 p.m.
- Signs of life on Black Friday 7:51 p.m.
- Fears ease despite debt crisis 7:50 p.m.
- Social media for holiday retail 7:48 p.m.
- Feds delay rules on gambling 7:47 p.m.
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins 7:30 p.m.
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
263 - Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
211 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
202 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
133 - Boys basketball rankings
127 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
112 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
106 - Hall, Johnson matchup key
102 - Letters: Trump card for believers
92
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
I'm not sure of the existence of God. I'm reserving judgment on whether...
Actually, if you look at the facts you will see that it was during the...
Couple of things to consider - 1) National debt is about tripled since BO...
Thanks for the sermons, y'all.
If you look at BYU losses, they share one aspect, that is that the teams that...
can't be more wrong. Utah 31 BYU 17
I've been in that cave and I've been in the Birth Canal section of the cave....
Hello Tiger Woods, I am relieved to know that you are doing well and on to a...
I am laughing so hard right now from looking at the picture of the BYU Fan...
if you figure an annual health care cost of $14,244 per family (towers perrin...



You can be the first to comment on this story.