Saturday, February 14, 2009
Comet Lulin, Mercury, Mars and Jupiter 16-18 February
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Currently the Moon is drowning out comet Lulin, however, in the next few days there will be a good opportunity to see this comet. On the 16th and 17th of February the comet will be within a binocular field of the bright star Spica, alpha Virginis. It is very easily seen in binoculars (the only fuzzy star near Spica), and may be visible to the unaided eye under dark sky conditions.
You of course need to get up early in the morning (between about 1:30 am 5:30 am) to see the comet.
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While you are up, cast your gaze to the eastern horizon, Mercury is the obvious bright object above the horizon, Jupiter is the bright object just above the horizon and Mars is a fainter dot above Jupiter. Between the 16th and the 18th, Mars and Jupiter draw closer and are closest, half a fingerwidth apart, on the 18th (see image below).
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Keep on watching, on the 23rd there is a spectacular line up of Jupiter, Mercury, Mars and the crescent moon, and on the 24th, comet Lulin is in binocular range of Saturn, and should be visible to the unaided eye.
Labels: comets, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury