Now is the time to see something you won't see again for another 36 years. Just after the sun sets you can go out and see 6 (Yes, that is 6 planets visible to the naked eye.) of the planets of our solar system all visible to us at the same time. Looking up, the most prominent are the very bright lights in the Western sky, Venus, and Jupiter, in the Eastern sky. If you draw an arch from horizon to horizon through those two planets, you can find the other planets along that line. Saturn is perhaps the more difficult to identify as it is in a field of stars that may make it hard to distinguish. It is almost directly overhead, near the moon, at least for now, and in the edge of the Gemini constellation. (It forms a triangle with the two prominent stars of Gemini, Castor and Pollex.) But remember the line of the arch and you should be able to identify it. Mercury is the faint light by itself between Venus and the horizon. Mars is the even fainter somewhat reddish point 10 degrees or so above Venus.

There you have it. Go out and find them tonight.

Tom

Six planets, Tom? So you mean Uranus is out and visible too?

What about on the west coast? Can we see them here? I'm going out to look as I know where some planets are.

Debbie,

They should be quite spectacular for you in the Pacific Northwest. Actually this special alignment is visible in most of the Northern hemisphere. Across the continental US the positioning should be about the same. The "rise" and "setting" of the planets and their movement across the sky on a nightly basis from our vantage point is very much the same as our view of the sun's movement in the sky - the result of earth's rotation.

However, the planets change position relative to one another along that imaginary line and relative to the stars in the rest of the sky from night to night as they and earth travel on their respective orbits at much different speeds and distances around the sun. The reason for the line of the arch (sometimes refered to as an ecliptic) is that the orbits of most of the planets are roughly on the same plane which makes their movement across our sky follow a line corresponding to that orbital plane. Our moon follows a similar path but is just a few degrees off the planatary ecliptic. The sun's movemnt across our sky is also on that ecliptic line. That gives you an idea of where in the sky to look as the sun sets.

In extreme latitudes within the Northern hemisphere the postioning of the arch I believe will be different but I think the planatary alignment is still visible. Anyone from Australia care to enlighten us on the view of the planets from down under?

Tom

John,

Ahhh, you noticed that I only mentioned 5 planets as do most of the news reports on this. The sixth visible planet is actually the easiest to find and see. When you go out tonight you can find it facing either East or West. Just slowly lower you eyes toward the horizon, making sure your feet are both pointing in the same direction at a comfortable distance apart. Now quickly look down at you feet and you will find the sixth planet right there between your two feet! Earth is very visible to the naked eye on any night or day no matter the viewing conditions!

Tom

Bzzz! Bzzz! Trick question!!

To give credit where credit is due, that came from my son the other night when we were all looking at the other five planets. Bright kid!

Tom

I took a look outside at 9:30'ish pacific, and I looked towards the west and noticed a planet that was unusually low just above the rooftops. Is there a chart or something like that so I can know which planets I am seeing Tom cause I know it is a planet for sure, and the way the snight sky looks is rather beautiful indeed. Anyways thanks in advance
God Bless,
Will

Will,

That would have been Venus. It was located just below the Pleiades. Venus is the brightest object in the Western sky after the sun sets. There are some online astronomy helps available. A good site is http://skyandtelescope.com/ .

Your question reminded me that I have some basic Astronomy software on my computer which allows me to select any location worldwide and set it to any time and date to see the sky as it is visible at that time and place. It is a really cool interactive star chart. I can actually use it to answer my own questions that I alluded to in my post above to Debbie.

So here is the scoop for those in extreme latitudes and those in the Southern Hemisphere. The planetary alignment is visible from parts of Australia, the more North, the better. Unfortunately, it appears that in the Southern parts of Australia where most Australians live, it may not be easy to get a glimpse of Mercury as it sets just after the sun sets. It would appear that those in the Sydney area might be able to see it if they can find an unobstructed horizon from a high viewing point immediately after the sun sets, at least for a few more nights. South of Sydney, Mercury probably won't be visible, although the other 4 can be seen in the sky.

Most all Canadians and Alaskans are in a good viewing range. In the extreme North it may be very hard to see the faint Mercury as the sun only slightly dips below the horizon.

Tom

Same here Tom..so that is Venus I am looking at each night at work? I work till 11:30 at night and at a truck gate so I get to see the stars come out. There has been this real bright one I knew had to be a planet (I really do not know anything about the stars, etc.) and not a star as it was much bigger and so much brighter. I have been at this post for almost 4 yrs now and I have not noticed it before. I guess I was blind. It is in the western sky. I asked some of the people and no one knew. I am so glad to know now.

And thanks so much for the link you gave. I am thinking of getting a telescope. Not an expensive one..just to see the stars and planets. A friend gave me a link where you can put in your birthday and see a star that has the same light years away for your age. I don't understand that as I would think there are many with the same light years away as my birthday? But I really do not understand this stuff and am just learning. Birthday Star I have printed out a few of these for people at work who do not have access to a computer. I have received alot of kidding as I am from the constellation Puppis and called 9 Puppis.