Astronomy Picture of the Day 4-18-02

NASA ^ | 4-18-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell

[petuniasevan]

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2002 April 18

Planets in the West
Credit & Copyright: John French (Abrams Planetarium, MSU)

Explanation: Have you seen any bright planets lately? Chances are if you've been outside under clear skies just after sunset, then you have. Now shining in the west as bright "stars" in the night sky, are all five planets of the solar system known to ancient astronomers - Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter. Recorded from Holt, Michigan, USA about 40 minutes after sunset on April 14th, this digital image captures three of them, Venus, Mars, and Saturn, along with a young crescent Moon. Also indicated are the Pleiades star cluster and bright red giant star Aldebaran in Taurus. Mercury, setting, is lost in the trees and glow along the horizon, while Jupiter is off the top of this view. The coming weeks will see photo opportunities galore as all five planets gradually move closer together, posing after sunset with the Moon and stars in the western sky. Venus, Mars, and Saturn will form the closest trio, drawing within a 5 degree circle (about the apparent size of your fist with arm extended) above Aldebaran by May 3rd.

[petuniasevan]

Have a look at the western sky on a clear evening!

Get on the APOD PING list!

[petuniasevan]

APOD PING!

[aomagrat]

Cloudy and snow here. :(

[headsonpikes]

It's finally clear in Vancouver.

Well, as clear as it gets here. ;^(

[RightWhale]

Stars are about gone for the summer. Except on the Internet.

[2Trievers]

I was reading about this earlier today ... so glad you posted it. I'll be out for the next few nights checking it out! HOOOOOOaaaaaaaahhhhhhh! Thanks petunia! &;-)

[petuniasevan]

Well, that's true, for you. Even here we'll only get about 3 1/2 - 4 hours total darkness at the summer solstice...

For cloudy days or long twilights, I use my Starry Night Pro astronomy software.

[petuniasevan]

Enjoy! I've got cloudy skies and a tornado watch.

Wisconsin weather strikes again!

[2Trievers]

I'll give you a report! &;-)

[EggsAckley]

Please put me on the list. I love the APODs.

Night before last I looked up at the moon as it was in the west and saw what I thought had to be Venus, but contrary to today's APOD, Venus was to the left of the moon. Hoping it's clearer tonight so I can get a glimpse. I live on the Central Coast in California.

[sistergoldenhair]

I caught a glimpse of this last night.
Tonight we have a tornado watch.

[glock rocks]

bummer. southwest from salt lake is toast this evening.

... of course, this will be going on for a couple weeks, and should actually get better, yes?