HYPED PLANETARY PARADE TONIGHT

 Hey, Space Placers!

Venus 2-27-25 Southern Hemisphere

Greg Redfern on Azamara Journey

You may have heard about the "Planetary Parade" taking place tonight - 2/28/25.

Here's the REAL sky scoop.

You need a clear view of the Western horizon at about 6:30 pm EST free of buildings, trees and bright lights. Check around your neighborhood and surrounding area to find the best viewing spot.

Use brilliant Venus as a guide to find the other planets above the Western horizon. Hold your fist vertically and at arm's length just below Venus. You should be able to spot fairly bright Mercury and just below it the one-day old Crescent Moon MAY be visible.

 Saturn will be below Mercury and the Moon and VERY low in the sky. Binoculars give you a fighting chance of seeing Saturn and the Moon.

As it gets darker, look to the Southwest high in the sky to see Jupiter. It is currently the brightest object in the night sky. If you have binoculars, see if you can make out the four main moons of Jupiter. The number visible and their positions constantly change as they orbit the largest planet of the solar system.

Moving to the East - left - of Jupiter you will see reddish Mars, which is greatly dimmed. It forms a triangle with two stars.

Uranus can be seen visually if you know where to look and identify it but optical aid is best to view it. Neptune is a long shot even with a telescope as it is in the glow of dusk along with the Moon, Saturn and Mercury.

The sky view will be EVEN BETTER on March 1st as the two-day old Crescent Moon will be below and to the left of Venus. Look for Earthshine on the Moon - binoculars are a real aid to see this beautiful sight.

Try using your Smartphone and/or camera to take some sky pics. Just use the auto setting and even zoom in a bit. Try bracing yourself against your car, a building, a tree if you do not have a tripod.

Here's to CLEAR SKIES FOR ALL!

Sky Guy underway in the Atlantic