by Robert Wilkinson
We now have an extraordinary lineup of planets in the western skies just after sunset. If you have a decent western view, this week’s lineup is impressive!
Just after sunset, look to the west. If you have a telescope it’ll be even more impressive, since you’ll also see Chiron and Uranus. The first visible planet barely above the horizon on Sunday night is Mercury, followed next up by Jupiter. When they conjunct Monday night, they’ll be a twin light, and by Tuesday night, Mercury will be just above Jupiter.
Next above Mercury is Venus about 30 degrees, or 1/6 the sky above the horizon. If you have a telescope, Uranus is just above Venus. Then next up, high in the western sky, is Mars. Look for the reddish light.
On Sunday and Monday night, the Moon will be above Venus and below Mars. By Tuesday night, Mars will be just to the west of the Moon.
This light show will be visible until the Sun moves closer to Chiron and Jupiter, thus obscuring their light. But we’ll still have Mercury on the western horizon, Venus just above it, Mars above Venus, and the Moon high and bright at the top of the sky, moving into the eastern sky at sunset by Thursday.
Here’s a chart for what the lineup will look like in Santa Monica on Tuesday, March 28. It happens about 7:45 pm in Seattle, 7 pm in Phoenix, 8 pm in Austin, 7:45 pm in Washington DC., 6:30 pm in London, 6:10 pm in Tokyo, and 6:30 pm in Melbourne. Have fun!
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