See all five bright planets simultaneously!

[Artful]

http://earthsky.org/science-wire/when-will-all-five-visible-planets-appear-simultaneously
http://en.es-static.us/upl/2016/01/5-planets-NHemisphere-80minsbeforesunrise-EarthSky1-e1453249867188.jpg
All five bright planets will appear together in the morning sky from about January 20 to February 20, 2016. That hasn’t happened since 2005.

When will all five bright planets be visible in the sky at once?The time is now! Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn can be seen simultaneously before dawn beginning around January 20, 2016. And they’ll remain visible before dawn from about January 20 to February 20, 2016.The last time that all five visible planets appeared in the same sky together was from about December 15, 2004, to January 15, 2005.That was 10 years ago.
http://en.es-static.us/upl/2016/01/ken-christison-morning-planets-before-dawn-january-18-2016.jpg

y bright or visible planet, we mean any planet in our own solar system that’s easily viewed without an optical aid and that has been watched by our ancestors since time immemorial.In their outward order from the sun, the five bright planets are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. These planets are easily seen in our sky because their disks reflect sunlight, and these relatively nearby worlds tend to shine with a steadier light than the distant, twinkling stars.Moreover, people around the globe can use the moon to help guide them to this showcase of planets from January 27 to February 6. The charts below are for mid-northern North American latitudes, although these planets can be seen in the morning sky from anywhere around the world.The charts below show the moon’s position on the sky’s dome relative to these five bright planets from January 27 to February 6:
http://en.es-static.us/upl/2015/04/special-5-planets-chart-2016-january-27-to-february-1-580.jpg
http://en.es-static.us/upl/2015/04/special-5-planets-chart-2016-february-1-to-6-580.jpg

Of course, you can catch most of these planets long before dawn. Jupiter rises first, in the evening hours, followed by Mars after midnight and then Saturn, Venus and Mercury. Click here for recommended almanacs (http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/sunrisesunset-moonrisemoonset-almanacs) that will help you find when each planet rises into your sky for any given date.May you be blessed with clear skies for the upcoming planetary spectacle, with all five bright planets taking stage in the same sky from January 20 to February 20, 2016!Relative distances of the planets in astronomical units (http://earthsky.org/space/what-is-the-astronomical-unit) (sun-Earth distance):
http://en.es-static.us/upl/2014/01/AU-distances-planets.jpg

Mean distance in astronomical units (http://earthsky.org/space/what-is-the-astronomical-unit) (AU, or Earth-sun unit) from sun to each planet.Mercury: 0.387 AU
Venus: 0.723 AU
Earth: 1.000 AU
Mars: 1.524 AU
Jupiter: 5.203 AU
Saturn: 9.529 AU
Uranus: 19.19 AU
Neptune: 30.06 AU

When will it happen again? We’ve had a number of people ask us when the next presentation of the five visible planets in the same sky will take place. It will be possible to view all five in the evening sky from about August 13 to 19, 2016. However, Mercury and Venus will be sitting low in the west at dusk and not that easy to catch from northerly latitudes. The Southern Hemisphere definitely has the big advantage for spotting all five planets in the August, 2016 evening sky.Bottom line: All five bright planets – Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn – will appear together in the morning sky from about January 20 to February 20, 2016. That hasn’t happened since 2005.

[Windwalker 45acp]

that's pretty cool. I caught just a snippet of something on the radio the other day where some scientist's believe we have a 9th planet again... (I grew up being taught Pluto was the 9th), but this other planet is obscured by the sun.
Supposedly, they determined this by mathematics and my first thought upon hearing that was I hope they didn't use the same number crunchers that they had on the Mar's rover missions! LOL

[fryboy]

Ummm,so far ...all my efforts have been naught but dark dark and gray lolz been out there every morning and it's nothing but clouds ( cue the chem trail tribe :P )

[popper]

Saw that years ago on the way to Austin. Way cool. That and a good meteor shower (Molas lake). Saw Halley's (or Christmas?) comet long time ago, Sputnick, Shuttle coming in low over Texas. Events don't last long but are very memorable.

[Elkins45]

that's pretty cool. I caught just a snippet of something on the radio the other day where some scientist's believe we have a 9th planet again... (I grew up being taught Pluto was the 9th), but this other planet is obscured by the sun.
Supposedly, they determined this by mathematics and my first thought upon hearing that was I hope they didn't use the same number crunchers that they had on the Mar's rover missions! LOL

I read a few articles about it last week. They have all been calling it by the nickname "Fatty" because based on the gravitational evidence (it was detected by its gravitational pull on the other planets) they think it's huge. Great, we just meet the other planet and we are already lowering its self-esteem by giving it a derogatory nickname :)

Thanks for posting this Artful. I have been noticing Saturn glowing obviously over my front yard over the past few months and I look forward to seeing it with all of its friends once the snow storm blows over.

[brassrat]

thanks for posting

[dragonrider]

My horizons are not good for astronomical observations at my place. I must drive to the highest point in town if I am to see the planets. I should do it, it must be a cool show.