This week is a great opportunity to observe some planets!
With Jupiter still gracing our evening skies, Mars reaching opposition, and Saturn steadily growing in brightness near it, we have a chance to see three bright planets near their best!
Sunday, May 22, will be the best day to watch Mars in 2 years! On that date, Mars will reach its opposition, as Earth will be passing between Mars and the Sun. Also, Mars is preparing to make its closest approach to Earth in 2 years—an event called its perigee, scheduled to happen on May 30. So, between its opposition and its perigee, our red neighbour is going to be appear at its largest and brightest in 2 years this weekend!
To see it, check out your southern skies in the evening, a while after sunset. Mars will be glowing like a red jewel in the southeast. Saturn, the fainter and more golden of the two, will be shining nearby—between Mars and the horizon. And Jupiter will be located farther west of the two, still glorying in his current position as the brightest star-like object in our night sky. You’ll find him in the south-southwestern sky, depending on the time of night.
If you own a telescope, this week is a great chance to use it! While Mars can be a disappointingly “boring” and featureless object to view through a telescope, you won’t see it looking better for a long time! Saturn and Jupiter will also make great targets. Even a small telescope should be able to display Saturn’s rings and the four largest moons of Jupiter.
