People often equate good luck with the phrase "the planets aligned." Imagine the luck that must be attributed to the skies overhead in this rare celestial moment. Six planets in our solar system (including Earth, of course) are clustered together in the same neighbourhood of time and space, all of them visible to the naked eye.
"From now until about Feb. 20, early risers will stand a good chance of seeing Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Mars and Jupiter simultaneously in the pre-dawn sky," said Jane Platt of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.
She added that anyone using binoculars or telescopes would get an even better view as some moons and ring systems were also in view using those aids.
Platt described some of the details of the gathering.
"If you go outside during the five-planet display, and if weather conditions are favorable, here's what you should be able to see: Jupiter will rise in the evening, then Mars will pop up after midnight, followed by Saturn, brilliant Venus, and finally, Mercury. All five will be visible from southeast to southwest between 6 and 6:30 a.m. local time, over the span."
Earth's moon will also join the cosmic display until Sunday, so use it as your first orientation point, and your next best pinpoint would be dominantly bright Venus. On Saturday, the moon, Mercury and dazzling Venus will appear in a triangular formation before sunrise.
Prince George has a shining star of a facility for watching the night sky. The Royal Astronomical Society-Prince George branch has a well-equipped observatory located just outside the city near West Lake.
Friday is the first night for the observatory group's open houses this winter. Starting at 7:30 p.m., individuals, groups or families can drop out to see what's up there and see the high-tech equipment up close, until closing time at 10:30 p.m.
Admission is by donation (suggested rates: $2 individual or $5 family).
It is also possible to book tours and special visits to the observatory.
Call 250-964-3600 for any questions about the facility or the not-for-profit society that operates it. It is located one kilometre down Tedford Road, (turnoff down the Blackwater Road a little more than 10 km).
