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Want to see that famous planetary alignment? Set your alarm for Friday before dawn.
Thursday, February 4, 2016 1:24
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Want to see that famous planetary alignment? Set your alarm for Friday before dawn.
Martin Dolan’s picture, taken last week
If you’ve missed the rare sight of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn appearing together in the sky for the first time since 2005, set your alarm for Friday morning.
The moon will be at its darkest this weekend as it wanes, while Mercury will rise at its earliest – about 80 minutes before dawn.
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Image via EarthSky.org
Mercury will be nearest the horizon and the most westerly.
Venus will be in the south east, with Saturn higher up to the right. Further over at due south, you’ll see Mars and way beyond in the south east will be Jupiter.
The weather forecasts also predicts the clearest skies of the weekend will be on Friday morning, giving us the most chance of seeing all five planets forming a diagonal line from the Moon to the horizon.
Dawn is set for 7.02am on Friday.
