Media Relations
Tuesday,
November 25,
2003
Astronomy Department
Venus will appear low in the west-southwest after sunset during October, gradually moving higher as twilight fades. This beautiful "evening star" has probably provoked more UFO reports than any other object in the night sky. When the dazzling white planet passes just north of the bright orange star Antares on Oct. 26, you'll need binoculars to keep the star from being overwhelmed by the glare of its much brighter companion.
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Three planets -- Venus, Mercury and Mars -- will put on a show after sunset in September that would be spectacular if it were higher in the sky. For those with binoculars and a clear view of the western horizon, the group will form a tight triangle very low in the west-southwest that will last an amazing 17 days, from Sept. 3 to 19.
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The annual Perseid meteor shower will peak before dawn on Aug. 12. This year the Perseids will be competing with the nearly full moon at first, but after the moon sets there will be many bright streaks in the sky. Three planets -- Venus, Saturn and Mercury -- will form a tight triangle low in the western sky on several evenings. The triangle will be different each night as the planets change places.
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Saturn and Mars will have a close encounter low in the western sky an hour after sunset on July 9 and 10. Watch each evening for the first ten days of the month as red-orange Mars is lured away by Saturn from a dalliance with the bright white star Regulus.
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Jupiter, the giant of the solar system, will rise earlier each evening and be visible most of the night as it crosses the southern sky during June. Usually this is the best chance to see the huge planet, especially with a telescope. Unfortunately it is quite low in the sky this time around, still easy to find but with more of the murky turbulence of Earth's atmosphere for its light to penetrate.
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During the second and third weeks of May, look for Mercury low in the west-northwest about an hour after sunset. If you've never seen the smallest planet, you'll have an especially good chance. This will be Mercury's best evening appearance of the year.
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