The Morning Sky is Alive

Staff Writer, Nathaniel Diaz
Astronomy / Skywatching
_________________________________

Jupiter, Venus, and Mars are all lining up in the morning sky. As Venus treks eastward, the planets draw closer to together throughout this month. 

Mercury is low by the horizon.

As for the last visible planet, Saturn sets in the early night's sky. So enjoy!

Source: Interactive Star Chart,  When the Curves Line Up

Cloudy at First, Then Patchy with Starlight

Staff Writer, Nathaniel Diaz 
Astronomy / Weather
_______________________________

Tonight, stargazing weather will be fair. Cloudy conditions will turn patchy as the night progresses. Those stargazers who are out when the clouds only obstruct 36% of the sky later on will see Mars followed by Saturn.

For skywatchers who caught a glimpse of a shiny planet after sundown, Mercury has come from the other side of the Sun and is now setting in the West close to the horizon.

Here's the Phoenix night sky for tonight as of 8pm:

Source: Weather Underground,  Accuweather 

Solar System Visualized in 3D

Staff Writer, DL Mullan  
Astronomy / Astrophysics
  ______________________________

This program called Solar System Scope is online and anyone can download it onto their desktop, for a fee, but onto a website is free of charge. If you would like to see the website for yourself, please visit Solar System Scope.

Actually see how the stars and constellations line up with the planets.

Great for the astronomer in all of us. Also for school lessons and amateur telescope enthusiasts, this program puts outer space into perspective. 

Note: there is music so if you do not care for the instrumental, then be sure to mute the music.