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The bright planets at a glance


The sky at Berlin, 2004 March 24 at 18:30 UT (by
Starry Night)

A rare planetary constellation will happen from the end of March until the beginning of April 2004: all of the bright planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will be visible at a glance.

While viewing the 4 easily seen planets you can see the shape of the celestial sphere. Start with Venus in the west and end with Jupiter in the east and imagine a curved line passing from Venus thru Mars and Saturn ending with Jupiter...

The five bright planets and the Earth will be within a sector of 90° of the ecliptic plane:

2004 Mar 24 at 18:30 UT: the bright planets and the Earth within a sector of 90°
heliocentric longitudes: L(Earth) - L(Mars) = 184.5° - 94.5° = 90.0°


Geocentric view on 2004 Mar 24 at 18:30 UT: the bright planets within a sector of 139.3°
Geocentric longitudes: L(Jupiter) - L(Mercury) = 161.4° - 22.1° = 139.3°


Horizon view at Berlin, 2004 Mar 24 at 18:30 UT
The bright planets within an azimuth range of 160.4°

Altitudes: Sun -10.2°, Mercury 5.5°,
Elongation of Mercury from the Sun 17.7° E,
Moon 14.1% illuminated

Horizon view at Berlin, 2004 Mar 24 at 18:30 UT

 


For latitudes greater than 75° N or 20° S it will be difficult to see Mercury.

2004 Mar 24 at 18:30 UT


© 2004 Juergen Giesen