Watching the Skies: Parade of planets

WoodTV ^ | Mar 16, 2020 / 07:04 PM EDT | Emily Schuitema

[BenLurkin]

Early Tuesday morning, the waning crescent moon will be visible with the four planets down and to the left. As the sky begins to brighten, Mercury will rise and both Saturn and Mars will begin to fade from view. Both the Moon and Jupiter will remain visible as it gets lighter.

By Wednesday morning, the moon will be closest to Jupiter and Mars. Jupiter is currently the brightest morning planet and it will be easy to pick out. Mars will be much dimmer in comparison.

The moon will continue to get thinner as the week goes on. On Thursday morning, the waning crescent moon will be closest to Saturn. Mars and Jupiter will still be visible. Saturn will be rather faint, and viewing will be best with a telescope.

By Friday morning, the moon will be very thin. The light side of the moon will point toward Mercury. Mercury is a bit difficult to see at our latitude, so binoculars or a telescope may help

[HighSierra5]

I’ve noticed all the planets lately. The mountain to my east blocks about 30 degrees of the horizon so I never see Mercury in the morning. As for the West it’s pretty much unobstructed. Last year on a cold clear dark twilight I saw Mercury for the first time and it was spectacular. It wash shining like a coral colored diamond. But not for long. It was short and sweet.

[Hatteras]

Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars?....

[fieldmarshaldj]

*ping*

[Charles Martel]

[Oratam]

Last night, Monday the 16th, about an hour after sunset, I saw an incredibly bright white star just a few degrees above the horizon in the west. I assumed it was Venus but it seemed brighter and bigger than usual.

I pulled up the skymap app on my phone and held it up and the only celestial body at that location was...Regulus.

All the major planets were well below the horizon in the east. Did my app need to be recalibrated?