You’ll Be Able to See Five Planets and the Moon Without a Telescope This Weekend
Here’s something to look forward to this weekend: Before sunrise on July 19, five planets–Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn–and the crescent moon will all be visible in the sky at the same time. And better yet, you won’t even need a telescope to see them!
The five planets and crescent moon will simultaneously be visible to the naked eye 45 minutes before sunrise on Sunday, July 19, astronomy educator Dr. Jeffrey Hunt wrote in a blog post. They’ll be curved across the morning sky, so you’ll want to “find a spot with clear horizons in the east-northeast and the southwest,” Hunt advises.
How do you recognize which planet is which? Two hours before sunrise, you’ll already be able to spot Jupiter in the southwestern sky with the ringed planet Saturn above it and to the right. Mars, aka the red planet, will be visible in the southeastern horizon. Venus blazes in the eastern sky, and Mercury will be to the right of the moon–which will be very low in the east-northeast, reports Space.com.
Although you don’t need a telescope, a pair of binoculars might help you spot the moon, Mercury, and Jupiter because of how low they will be in the sky. If you’re looking for helpful degree measurements or want to know how to set up your telescope for a closer look, check out more at When the Curves Line Up.
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