William Atkins
Sunday, 28 December 2008 19:35
Science -
Space
Page 1 of 3
Starting Monday night (December 29, 2008) and ending with a really big show on New Year’s Eve, the new crescent Moon and the planets of Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter will help us to ring in the new year of 2009.
Look for this celestial group early in the evening, at twilight.
They will appear in the south-southwestern evening sky just after sunset (between one-half to one hour after the Sun sets in the western sky).
On
Monday night, look low in the southwestern sky to see the planet Mercury (the innermost and smallest planet in the Solar System) closest to the horizon, with Jupiter located just above Mercury, and the Moon above both of the planets.
Jupiter, the fifth largest planet in the Solar System, will be seen as obviously brighter of the two planets.
To top off the show, watch the planet Venus, orbiting the Sun between Mercury and Earth, higher in the sky and to the left of the threesome.
It will be even brighter than Jupiter, being even more conspicuous in the night sky.
Check out page two with Tuesday night's festivities.
