Planetary Alignment 2002
News story originally written on April 24, 2002

Click for full size

In mid-May, Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Saturn and Mercury will join the Moon in the sky. This image represents the order in which you will see these bodies around May 13th from high to low in the sky: Jupiter, the Moon, Venus, Mars, Saturn and then Mercury. Please note: planet sizes are not meant to be to scale.
Click on image for full size (160K JPEG)
Windows Original
In late April through mid-May 2002, all five naked-eye planets are visible simultaneously in the night sky! This is includes Mercury which is generally very hard to see because of its proximity to the Sun. You won't want to miss this! The next similar gathering of these five planets won't occur until September 2040!

Use the links below to find out specific viewing information for specific dates.

Cranbrook Institute of Science alignment 2002 page

Carnegie Science Institute's sky-viewing calendar

Space.com article about alignment

2002 Spring Planets - on a paper plate!

Planetary Alignment 2002
News story originally written on April 24, 2002

Click for full size

In mid-May, Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Saturn and Mercury will join the Moon in the sky. This image represents the order in which you will see these bodies around May 13th from high to low in the sky: Jupiter, the Moon, Venus, Mars, Saturn and then Mercury. Please note: planet sizes are not meant to be to scale.
Click on image for full size (160K JPEG)
Windows Original
In late April through mid-May 2002, all five naked-eye planets are visible at the same time in the night sky! This is includes Mercury which is generally very hard to see. You won't want to miss this! The next similar gathering of these five planets won't occur until September 2040!

Use the links below to find out specific viewing information for specific dates.

Cranbrook Institute of Science alignment 2002 page

Carnegie Science Institute's sky-viewing calendar

Space.com article about alignment

2002 Spring Planets - on a paper plate!

Planetary Alignment 2002
News story originally written on April 24, 2002

Click for full size

In mid-May, Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Saturn and Mercury will join the Moon in the sky. This image represents the order in which you will see these bodies around May 13th from high to low in the sky: Jupiter, the Moon, Venus, Mars, Saturn and then Mercury. Please note: planet sizes are not meant to be to scale.
Click on image for full size (160K JPEG)
Windows Original
There is something special happening in the night sky. Through mid-May, you will be able to see five planets at the same time! This doesn't happen very often, so you won't want to miss this.

Use the links below to find out where the planets will be on a given night.

Cranbrook Institute of Science alignment 2002 page

Carnegie Science Institute's sky-viewing calendar

Space.com article about alignment

2002 Spring Planets - on a paper plate!


Last modified April 25, 2002 by the Windows Team

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