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While things here on Earth may be complicated, stressful, and even a little uncertain as the world continues to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, the cosmos appears to be functioning as it always has and this week means that sky watchers are delighted. Every planet in our solar system – with the exception of Earth because, you know, we are on it – will be visible in the sky at various points of the day, a celestial phenomenon that is not rare but still rare.
This week, Venus and Mercury will be bright enough to be seen in the morning. Mars, Jupiter, Neptune and Saturn will all be visible at night. The Earth Sky website has published a comprehensive guide to visualizing the planets, including information on Uranus (via WCVB).
“Early this morning, I took the time to take a look at the crescent moon,” said After School Matters in Chicago astronomer and educator Joe Guzman. “And when the sun goes down tonight, you will definitely be able to see Jupiter and Saturn.”
While the appearance of the planets in the night sky is somewhat unusual, it is not particularly rare and is something that can only be considered a coincidence. And while they will be bright enough to be seen with the naked eye, if you happen to have a telescope, a real treat awaits you. With a telescope, Saturn’s rings are also visible.
“It’s the dance of the planets around the sun,” Guzman said. “It’s a natural phenomenon, and it happens from time to time. It’s not uncommon, but it’s rare. It just happens that they’ll still be on this side of the sun, but soon they’ll start separating again.”
It is not the first time in the last few weeks that the sky has put on some show for those who look up. On Halloween, there was a rare full moon on Halloween night which, in addition to being unusually on Halloween – which won’t happen again until 2039 – was also visible almost globally with only Australia and New Zealand taking place. they lost the ghostly moon as it was already November 1st in those countries. Adding even more rarity to the situation, the moon was something called a micro-moon. This means that it is the full moon that occurs at the furthest point from Earth in its orbit. This location makes tonight’s full moon the smallest of the year. An unusual full moon seen almost globally on Halloween which is also the second full moon in October and the micro moon of the year? It’s very unusual, which seems oddly trending for 2020 albeit in a good way.
Will you do some stargazing this week to see all the planets in our solar system? Let us know in the comments.
Photo: Nicolas Economou / NurPhoto via Getty Images
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