April 19, 2002. Copyright 2002. Graphic News. All rights reserved.

Rare dance of the planets

LONDON, April 19, Graphic News: The five brightest planets visible from Earth gather in the western evening sky from April 20 and the first three weeks of May, creating a rare opportunity to see all five planets simultaneously. 

Astronomers say the rare grouping of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn may not be seen again until 2040. 

The planets orbit the sun, each at its own speed, and from earth they appear to move around the sky against the background of stars. Generally one or two planets are visible at any given time, but seldom can you see five at once. 

ÒThe five naked-eye planets are converging in one part of the sky and from now until mid-May you can see all five at one glance, which is pretty unusual,Ó said John Mosley, an astronomer at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.

Each evening, the alignment will assume different shapes, as the five planets take their orbital paths around the sun. The planets orbit in the same plane, like grooves in a phonograph record, only at different distances from the sun.

To see the spectacle choose a place away from lights with a clear view and look west in the sky just after sunset. If the sky were a clock, look at the 11 oÕclock position and the planets wil be grouped together in the same patch of sky 

The moon joins all five on May 13, 14, and 15, creating the most interesting nights 

Some thought the much-publicized grouping of planets that happened in May 2000 foretold widespread catastrophe. In February 1954 B.C., a similar alignment led the Chinese to restart their calendar at year 0, Mosley said.
/ENDS

Sources: Griffith Observatory, Astronomy Now