[AstroNet] Planetarium - interesting planet-viewing this week

Tue Oct 25 11:01:00 SAST 2011

Watch Mercury overtaking Venus early evenings this week
As it starts to get dark, look over to the west (where the Sun sets) for
the very bright "evening star" - Venus.  Venus is so bright it can be
seen in the twilight.  

As the Earth turns, you'll notice:
* the sky getting darker, as the Sun sinks lower below the horizon
* Mercury appearing as a relatively bright star below left of Venus
* first Mercury then Venus setting
* Jupiter rising above the eastern horizon as another extremely bright
"star"

If you watch this over the next two weeks, you'll notice the movement of
the planets: Mercury will move upwards each evening towards Venus, then
appear to reverse and move back down towards the horizon.  

Friday evening (28th Oct) look out for the young crescent Moon above
Mercury and Venus.

Maps of the sky and of the solar system for this are available at
www.planetarium.co.za <http://www.planetarium.co.za/>      
We'd be very grateful if you could pass these on to any schools.

Regards
Claire Flanagan

-- 

Wits Planetarium

011-717-1391 / 9

076-744-4735

011-339-2926 (fax)

www.planetarium.co.za

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