You don’t need a telescope to see planets like Jupiter and Venus in the sky. This weekend there is a good chance that you will see these two planets, plus Mars and Saturn, with the naked eye if you look up.
We can see the planets because they revolve around the sun, just like our planet. Then they all do it at their own pace. We go a complete circle around the sun in a year, Mars takes a year and a half and Saturn takes the cake with 30 years. The planets can always be found in a line with each other, so you never have to search for long once you have spotted one. Moreover, the planets follow the sun where they rise and set again.
Spotting planets
RTL writes that in the coming days we will be positioned exactly in such a way relative to the planets that we will be able to see all four planets with the naked eye between 6:00 PM and 8:30 PM. Mars and Jupiter where the sun rises (in the East), Saturn and Venus where the sun sets (Southwest). The only challenge is to hope for clear skies, otherwise the planets may be hidden behind cloud cover. This phenomenon happens once every 1 or 2 years and this week is the party: Thursday the planets have already been spotted and there is still a chance in the coming days.
Jupiter is the largest and heaviest planet in the solar system: it is 142,984 kilometers in diameter. It is 1300 times bigger than Earth.
Venus is about the same size as Earth and has a diameter of 12,104 kilometers. This planet turns the other way.
Saturn has a diameter of 120,500 kilometers. This planet is special because of its glittering ice rings.
Mars has a diameter of 6,779 kilometers and is characterized by its red color.
If necessary, use apps such as Sky Tonight, Star Walk (2) and Google Sky Map to help you with stargazing. And although you can view them without a telescope, it may be worth taking one or using binoculars for planet spotting.
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Source: www.bright.nl
