Image via Wikipedia Wow, we sure have been treated to some great planet viewing here in Aspen this month. All five visible-to-the-naked-eye planets are observable. I have seen Venus, Jupiter, and Mars before, but I have never knowingly been able to add Saturn or Mercury to complete the set. I am really only an occasional astronomer, but Jupiter and Venus shining brightly in tandem in the west, southwest skies and growing ever closer to each other each night, really caught my eye.
In the first part of the month, Jupiter occupied the higher position in the sky of the two. One will be able to view their best conjunction in years at mid-month and they will reverse their relative elevation positions in the latter part of March. It has been fascinating to watch their little sky dance over the west end of Aspen.
I have been trying to find Mercury, but it’s a little difficult as it apparently can only be seen shortly after sundown, just above the horizon. One was supposed to be able to find it by drawing a line connecting the insides of Jupiter and Venus and continuing on to the sunset spot on the horizon, but I am not sure if that hold true as the month progresses. In locations like Aspen, it is difficult to view much in that area due to the topography, the sunset light scattering and some murkiness close to the horizon, but I believe I did get lucky enough to catch it early one evening, just before it set.
On the opposite side of the sky we have been treated to a great show from not only a fabulous full moon, but from guest appearances from the red planet, Mars, and the distant Saturn as well.
Although the moon is no longer full and has migrated further and further away from these planets, Mars continues to make its presence known, and Saturn, the most elusive naked-eye planet, continues to be seen near the star, Spica, the brightest star in the constellation, Virgo. As forecasted by Earthsky.org, I was able to “ …see the beautiful pairing of the waning gibbous moon with Saturn and Spica on the night of March 10 .”
Of course I had to find Spica before I could find Saturn. Aided by a great animation on www.nakedeyeplanets.com and using the Big Dipper as a guide, I found Arcturus, then Spica, and I finally did see Saturn, near the almost full moon, hovering over the eastern part of Smuggler Mountain.
March certainly has been a fantastic month for planet viewing – I hope April provides interesting Aspen astronomy opportunities as well.
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