The two largest worlds and the smallest planet in the solar system appear this weekend.
NASA
A trio of planets appeared this weekend at dusk when Jupiter and Saturn, still chilling together at last month’s after-party barely Large conjunction, will be connected just above the western to southwestern horizon by the more volatile planet Mercury. The planetary trio is a rare sight that can be seen with the naked eye just after sunset for the next few days, but Saturday night is perhaps the best opportunity to see the three worlds together.
The magazine Astronomy reports that the planets will all be visible that night within an area of about 2.3 degrees (this is about the width of your little finger and ring finger if kept away from your body at arm’s length). Mercury will be the lowest of the three in the sky, Jupiter will be the brightest and Saturn the darkest.
A pair of binoculars can help you get a better view, while even a cheap backyard telescope offers the chance to see some of Jupiter’s larger moons. It might be a good thing to try if Mercury and Saturn have disappeared below the horizon and it’s a little darker.
Making sure you catch the whole trio is the key to going outside just after the sun goes down, because Mercury and Saturn will quickly drop below the horizon within an hour. Although the planets may be the closest on Saturday, they will continue to converge for the next few nights, so you can all catch some cosmic Pokémon games.
As always, if the amateur astrophotographers grab among you amazing images of the heavenly gathering, please share it with me on Twitter @EricCMack.
Follow CNET’s 2021 Space Calendar to stay up to date on all the latest space news this year. You can even add it to your own Google Calendar.
Discover Saturn’s secrets through NASA Cassini’s best views
See all photos
