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BREAKING NEWS: PLANETARY ALIGNMENT

Tonight (evening of 13th August), just after sunset, please look for the crescent moon. Just after it gets dark, locate the crescent moon in the north-north-west:

... then look just to the Moon's right hand side - there you will clearly see red MARS;
... directly below, and close to, Mars and the Moon is VENUS;
... slightly below Venus and to the right is SATURN;
... finally, if you draw a straight line directly downwards from Venus, about halfway between Venus and the horizon is MERCURY!

A magnificent planetary algnment that does not happen often ... WELL WORTH SEEING!!!

The alignment could be seen the last couple of days too, but if you haven't seen it yet, please pop out tonight and see it for yourself! Soon it will be gone.

Thanks OWN

Thanks for the heads up OWN. Amazing stuff and will def have a look out for it tonight

The astronomers say that on 27 August 2010 Mars will be 34649589 miles from earth, possibly the closest it has ever been.
The next time it will be close will be the year 2287 - none of us will see it again, only neither will the next 4 or 5 generations.

JL, AB ... ENJOY!

Gmlsmit, though this is interesting, unfortunately it is untrue!

Here is more info on this false phenomenon ...
HOAX AS TO SIZE OF MARS ON AUGUST 27th

OWN, thanks for the heads-up, just on time

Thanx for the info OWN and gml will watch out

WAC, Pops, you're welcome! Enjoy it.

It's almost dark now ... the time is nigh.

Awesome

Tried to get a pic Got the moon and venus, you cant really see mercury

I could clearly see the four planets now:

The easiest way is to find the moon and then, below it is the very bright Venus. Using Venus as a guide, north-east of it is red Mars, and south-east of it (But a little further away) is the unblinking Saturn. Mercury is close to the horizon, straight sown from Venus, but a little to the left.

Lovely to be able to locate all these planets so easily! Usually, Mercury is difficult to find. If you're not sure if it is a planet or star you're seeing, you'll see that the planets don't twinkle!

Happy viewing - just remember, you need to find it within the next hour or so, as Mercury is setting rapidly; and the other three will be close to the horizon not too long after that.

Thanks, WAC, for the Moon-Venus arrangement. Pretty good cam you've got there.

Absolutely stunning from Olivedale area, very clear sky !! Thanks Onewithnature, have also diarised 27 August to see Mars

Thanks for the trip report OWN. Stunning.
Just hope you had landing rights on all planets.

Fatcat and I must have been looking at the same angle Fabulous thanks OWN Tried to take a pic as well but need to RTM for night settings

I saw it on the way home and thought it must be something special. Just to get home and read this post! Thanks for the info OWN!
I agree with Fatcat and Shi... I think we were in a great area to see it!