fyi, my correspondence with Sheila, who asked about whether we would
have a viewing of the 5 planets. she is in Tempe.
-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: Re: 5 star Mars alignment
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2016 05:57:43 -0700
From: sheilainaz <sheilainaz@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Leah S <lphxaz@xxxxxxxxx>
I was just out snd I saw the moon set inside a black cloud, that was
nice. I also saw where 3 really bright stars or planets were so I think
that's my spot at 6am-ish...
I will follow what all you said and look for big dipper first!!!
Thank you♡♡♡
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy Note® 3, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
-------- Original message --------
From: Leah S <lphxaz@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: 2016/01/22 5:45 AM (GMT-07:00)
To: sheilainaz <sheilainaz@xxxxxxxxx>, Terri Finch
<starstuff@xxxxxxxxx>, Don Boyd <azphotog@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: 5 star Mars alignment
Dear Sheila,
that's great! :)
but if it stays cloudy, don't be discouraged, just try again tomorrow.
I gave the times for each planet today and next Friday, but of course in
between they will also be up around the same time.
here are some more landmarks (skymarks?)
find the Big Dipper in the north. then follow the curve of its handle.
it will be pointing to a bright star named "Arcturus" which about now
will be almost overhead. (earlier in the evening it was further east,
and that will also be the case tomorrow evening.) then if you continue
in the same line from the Dipper's handle through Arcturus, you will
come to another bright star named Spica, further south. we say, "follow
the arc to Arcturus and then speed over to Spica".
Jupiter will be a little west of Spica, and Mars will be a little east
of it. in fact, the line from the Big Dipper's handle through Arcturus
will be pointing at both Spica and Mars.
Jupiter will (at first) be the brightest, brighter than any other star
in the sky.
Mars will be reddish/yellowish and fainter, about as bright as Spica.
Arcturus will be brighter than Spica and Mars, but not as bright as Jupiter.
when Saturn rises, it will be near a reddish/yellowish star named
Antares. (the name means "rival of Mars" because it looks sort of
similar - you will be able to see that tonight!) Antares will be about
the same brightness as Mars and Spica. Saturn will be a little brighter
than Mars (and Spica and Antares), but not as bright as Arcturus.
then Venus will rise, and wow! Venus will be twice as bright as
Jupiter. it looks like a beacon. sometimes people think it's a plane
coming in for a landing... except it doesn't move... so then they
think it's a UFO :)
Mercury on the other hand will be really, really faint. at its best,
Mercury is a challenge to see, because it's so small, and always close
to the horizon. if you are able to see Mercury this morning (or another
morning this week), that's great! but if not, don't be discouraged.
first, 4 out of 5 isn't bad!
second, try again tomorrow (or another day this week). or try on Feb 6
when the moon will show you where it is.
and if all those don't succeed, try again in April. from around April
12 to 24, Mercury will be visible in the west after sunset (much easier
than getting up at the crack of dawn, or staying up till then).
good luck, and let me know if you succeed!
best regards,
Leah
On 1/22/2016 4:58 AM, sheilainaz wrote:
Thank you so much♡♡ I've been out there all night since midnight every hour, following Jupiter all around, the sky is kind of cloudy but now I see a 2nd bright something. I'm going out there in about 30 min and I'll make sure I'm out there at 6 and 630!!!
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy Note® 3, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
-------- Original message --------
From: Leah S <lphxaz@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: 2016/01/22 2:26 AM (GMT-07:00)
To: sheilainaz <sheilainaz@xxxxxxxxx>, Terri Finch <starstuff@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: 5 star Mars alignment
Hi Sheila,
nice to hear from you.
the 5 planets will be visible naked-eye but only around 6 am, i.e. just before the sun rises.
Jupiter rises around 10 pm tonight, and around 9:30 next Friday (Jan 29)
Mars rises around 1:30 am both nights
Saturn rises around 4 am both nights
Venus rises around 5:30 am both nights
Mercury rises around 6:30 am tonight and around 6 am next Friday
unless you have a very clear view of the eastern horizon, you need to give each planet a little time to get up above the horizon. Mercury will be the hardest to see, because it is the smallest, and also because by the time it gets up above the eastern horizon, it will be close to sunrise and the sky will not be very dark (morning twilight).
Jupiter, Mars and Saturn will be easier to see. Venus should also be easy because it's very very bright.
the best time to see all the planets will be on the morning of Feb 6, when the moon will be near Venus and Mercury; then you will have a "pointer" to show you where Mercury is. on that morning, Venus and Mercury will be directly to the right of the crescent moon, low in the east just before sunrise.
I am attaching a copy of my article about the planets in February.
wishing you clear skies and happy observing!
best regards,
Leah Sapir
PAS member
On 1/21/2016 9:09 PM, sheilainaz wrote:
Will you be set up Friday night Jan 22 anywhere that the public can view these 5 planets or if not this weekend , is any date planned for next week? We live in Tempe, hoping to see
Sheila
Just now
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy Note® 3, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
