World Report: April 26, 2002 Vol.7 No. 24
- This Issue:
- Table of Contents
- Cover Story
- Cover Story - Spanish Version
- Mini-Lesson
- Comprehension Quiz
- Teacher's Guide and Worksheets
Five Pretty Planets All in a Row
The night sky just got a bit more dazzling. Five planets have come together this spring to shine down on Earth in a rare display. For the next month, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Saturn and Venus will appear tightly clustered in the western sky.
Similar bunchings occur nearly every 20 years, but the planets are not usually as close together or visible to the naked eye. The last time stargazers could see the five planets aligned in such a tight group was in 1940. And it won't happen again until 2040. Each evening, the lineup will take a slightly different shape as the planets orbit the sun. "You can see all five at one glance," says astronomer John Mosley. What a heavenly view!
