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elleng

(136,883 posts) Tue Mar 28, 2023, 02:54 AM Mar 2023

Tuesday night, you're gonna wanna look up! Five of the solar system's eight planets will align

in the night sky on March 28. Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, and Mars will all be visible after sunset. The best way to catch a glimpse is by looking to the western horizon, according to NASA astronomer Bill Cooke. But make sure you're on time. Mercury and Jupiter are expected to only be visible for approximately half an hour after sunset, according to the AP.

Experts also suggest you grab some binoculars. Jupiter, Venus, and Mars should be bright enough to see without them. But Mercury and Uranus will be dimmer in comparison.

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((Will be cloudy here. GOOD LUCK!))

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Tuesday night, you're gonna wanna look up! Five of the solar system's eight planets will align (Original Post) elleng Mar 2023 OP

Here is a link to a sky map showing the alignment on Monday evening. John1956PA Mar 2023 #1

I'm not sure how to use this map. Any tips would be appreciated. flying_wahini Mar 2023 #3

Yes, figuring out these sky maps can be confusing at first. John1956PA Mar 2023 #5

Thanks! flying_wahini Mar 2023 #2

Thank you! cate94 Mar 2023 #4

Pretty cool last night mountain grammy Mar 2023 #6

John1956PA

(3,438 posts)

1. Here is a link to a sky map showing the alignment on Monday evening.

Reply to elleng (Original post)

Tue Mar 28, 2023, 03:19 AM

Mar 2023

flying_wahini

(8,043 posts)

3. I'm not sure how to use this map. Any tips would be appreciated.

Reply to John1956PA (Reply #1)

Tue Mar 28, 2023, 04:39 AM

Mar 2023

John1956PA

(3,438 posts)

5. Yes, figuring out these sky maps can be confusing at first.

Reply to flying_wahini (Reply #3)

Tue Mar 28, 2023, 07:18 AM

Mar 2023

It took me a long time before I was able to relate these maps to the actual sky scenes, and I am still not highly skilled in doing so. When I made this image snip, I should have included the "S" which was at the bottom to indicate that the view is to the south. Imagine that the image represents the bottom surface of an open umbrella. Then, imagine facing south and holding the umbrella over your head. The path of the sun, moon and planets of the actual sky will follow the line shown in the image. That line is known as the ecliptic. The reason I posted the map is to show the order of the planets, moon and sun. Starting from the left, the order is Mars, Moon, Uranus, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Sun, Neptune and Saturn.