Calling all the former birds and ( very later ) nighttime owls ! If you require to see four of the five planets visible to the naked oculus in a nice little dustup , this is the week for you . Jupiter , Venus , Mars , and Saturn are all align in the pre - dawn eastern sky , and you’re able to easily spot them .
The planet , all visible without the help of binoculars or telescopes , will be visibleabout an hour before dawn – blame meter zone for deficiency of one - sizing - fits - all timing prediction – with Saturn to be the first to rise from the horizon , follow by Mars . The cockcrow star – the traditional misnomer of Venus – is next , followed by the King of the planets , Jupiter . Technically Neptune is in the line of descent - up as well but unless you have a very good scope you wo n’t be capable to see this blueish frozen domain .
The alignment is going to be visible for several weeks so do n’t worry you may neglect the sauceboat on this , but if you require to wake up for a particularly upright showing , then there ’s a specific date to keep in mind . On May 1 , Jupiter and Venus will be in conjunction , meaning they ’ll appear just a fraction of a degree from each other . In fact , you ’ll want binoculars if you want to separate them . The two physical object are the brilliant planets , muse the luminance of the Sun , so see them together will be quite something .
If you miss this colligation , you ’ll have to waitabout three years and three monthsfor the next morning conjunction bear on August 12 , 2025 , but luckily the two planets also meet in the even . Their conjunction just after sunset will take place on March 1 , 2023 .
But , I try you cry out , enough about the easily espy planets , what about Mercury ? Where is it while the four larger worlds galavant together across the pre - dawn sky ? Well , worry not becauseMercury will become visibleas well and it will be in an exciting billet . On May 1 , powerful after sunset , Mercury can be make out succeed the Sun beyond the apparent horizon , next to the Pleiades , probably the most far-famed star cluster eff to humanity .
If May 1 is no in effect , May 2 and 3 will also work on . On May 2 in particular , you may use the waxing crescent of the Moon as an well-off direction to tell apart Mercury pay how close these two celestial bodies will look in the sky .
And talking about the Moon , May will also see a total lunar eclipse , where our natural planet will release its peculiar blood - cherry-red color as it passes through the shadow cast by our satellite . Due to the light filtered and refracted by Earth ’s atmosphere , the shadower is not perfect black but tinted an eery red , a treat for astrophotographers the world over .
And do n’t forget , this week get word the peak of theLyrids meteor showeron April 22 , though it uphold on until April 29 .
