Rare planetary conjunction to be visible in Philippine skies
Look up to the sky just before dawn from Jan. 22 to March 3 as five planets will be taking center stage for the first time in 11 years.
CELESTIAL TREAT. An image of the moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter as seen from Cerro Paranal,
Chile on May 2011.1
Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn have been visible just above the east south-eastern horizon since January 1, but Mercury will soon be joining them in a rare 5-planet conjunction that will not be seen until 2040, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
According to PAGASA astronomer Jose Mendoza, the rare celestial event was last seen in 2005. He also said the event will be best seen under a dark, clear sky an hour before sunrise, when all five planets would have already risen.
Astronomy and astrophotography enthusiasts should steer clear of city lights and head for the beach or any other area with an unobstructed horizon if they want to savor the event. It’s best viewed through a telescope, but it is also visible to the naked eye.
According to Mario Raymundo, chief of PAGASA’s astronomical observation unit, Jupiter will be first to act in the evening, while Mars will take to the skies a few hours after midnight, followed by Saturn. Venus will be seen a few hours before sunrise, while Mercury will rise minutes before the sun breaks the horizon.
The rare conjunction will last from Jan. 22 to March 3, right as Mercury disappears from our night skies.
The 5-planet conjunction won’t be seen again until Sept. 10, 2040, according to Mendoza. “Sadly, the event will occur during daytime in the Philippines”, he added.
Sources:
The Philippine Daily Inquirer
1 “Planetary Conjunction over Paranal” by G.Hüdepohl (atacamaphoto.com)/ESO – http://www.eso.org/public/images/potw1118a/. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 via Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Planetary_Conjunction_over_Paranal.jpg#/media/File:Planetary_Conjunction_over_Paranal.jpg
