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Post Info TOPIC: 3 planets


L

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RE: 3 planets
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On Tuesday, June 28th, the setting Sun flooded the horizon with a beautiful warm light in this view from the beach beside the pier at Brighton in Adelaide, South Australia.


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The Sun also illuminated three planets gathered in the western sky, Mercury, Venus, and Saturn.
From this perspective Mercury is at the highest point in the celestial triangle, brilliant Venus is just below, and Saturn stands farther to the left and below the close pair.
Of course, the planets only appear close together on the sky but are actually quite far apart in space. The orbits of Mercury and Venus are both interior to Earth's orbit, while gas giant Saturn lies in the outer solar system, over nine astronomical units from the Sun.
Late next week, Venus and Mercury will share western skies with the young crescent Moon.

-- Edited by Blobrana at 10:28, 2005-07-02

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L

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This weekend three planets will grace the western sky, forming a lovely trio easily visible shortly after sunset. Saturday evening in particular will find Saturn, Venus, and Mercury all within a 2 degree circle (about the size of your thumb held at arm's length) above the western horizon.


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Recorded last Sunday, June 19, this image shows the same three planets arrayed along the ecliptic plane above a Colorado Rocky Mountain skyline.
Venus is easiest to pick out of the twilight, the brightest celestial beacon below picture centre, with Saturn above and to the left of Venus, and Mercury closest to the horizon, right of prominent Pinnacle Peak.
By Saturday, the wandering planets will draw even closer together.

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