Like a celestial procession across the universe, five bright planets illuminate the night sky and visible to the naked eye throughout February – with other planets that can also be detected to Skywatch with special equipment.
Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury, are all currently visible with the naked eyes of Skywatches in the northern hemisphere. Uranus and Neptune are also part of the planetary width for this month, but it is difficult to discover them because they require perspectives or telescope to see.
All bright planets can be seen until the end of February, but in the last part of the month, some low -horizon sites on the horizon will make them more difficult to discover them. As such, Skywatches must choose a clear night in the coming weeks to enjoy the heavenly scene, according to Jackie Fahri, astronomer and the chief research scientist at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
She said: “I would like to tell people that the night sky is the original Netflix – this is what people used to do to entertain themselves.”
The best time to see the planets is after dusk on a clear night in a place far from the lights of the city and other forms of light pollution.
Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn are visible in the sky above Witburne, England, on January 29. Uranus and Neptune are there too, but a telescope is needed to see it.
The flower is usually the easiest in the southwestern sky because it tends to be brightest. Saturn can be monitored directly below Venus, but the cycle planet will become more difficult to see with the continuation of the month and drown in the sky every day after sunset. To see Jupiter, search the south at dusk. Mars, at the same time, will appear in the middle of the road in the eastern sky. Mercury should be visible to the naked eye, but it tends to be difficult to see because of its proximity to the sun, according to my fulle.
“It is always very close to the sun, making the light difficult to find,” she said.
However, by February 24, Mercury will be out of the sun, and therefore it will be easy to discover after sunset in the western sky, near Saturn.
Fahri said that for Skywatches with high -energy or telescope, Uranus and Neptune can also be found with some dedication, patience and helping stars.
NASA called this Skywatching event “Planet procession”. Although it does not happen every year, the opportunity to see many bright planets at the same time is not particularly rare.
These events occur because all the planets in the solar system revolve around the sun at a relatively flat-shaped level-closer to cars on the race track. Each planet takes a different period of time for the sun: for example, Venus completes one orbit in 225 days, while mercury mercury around the star takes 88 days, and Saturn takes 29.4 years to complete one revolution.
Sometimes, all planets will be on the same side of the metaphorical race, spread on the sky like how cars can be placed in different points along the same path.
She said: “For this reason, you may search for some planets at dusk while some will be later, but they are all over the sky.”
Planet Parade will be shown until February, but there will also be other opportunities to see many bright planets in the sky in the coming months and years.
In late August, four planets will be visible at the same time before sunrise, According to Nasa. In October 2028, five planets will be in a procession before sunrise. In February 2034, five planets should be visible after sunset.
Fahri said that this month is a good way for new arrivals to better get to know the universe in a fun and educational way.
Fahri said: “The sky always changes a little.” “There will always be something that surprises you.”
This article was originally published on NBCNEWS.com
