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Venus, Saturn and Jupiter shine brilliantly these days.

On Sunday, November 7, after sunset, we can see them forming a beautiful picture with the fine edge of the crescent Moon.

At dawn, Mercury and Mars will be visible close together at the beginning of the week, but flush with the horizon.

A dazzling trio

These days we have three very bright planets within reach of our gaze: Venus, Saturn and Jupiter. The best time to observe them simultaneously is when a little more than an hour has passed after sunset, that is, at about 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (peninsular time). In the southwest we can see the splendid glow of Venus and, looking south and higher, the

discreet orange glow of Saturn

and the most intense of Jupiter.

On Sunday the 7th, the thin edge of the crescent moon will complete the scene, standing on the same line. But it is advisable not to be confused, because the Moon and Venus will soon hide in the west (around 8:00 pm), following the path of the Sun. As the night progresses,

Jupiter and Saturn will lose height

from the meridian position in which they are found after dark.

The line joining the apparent positions of Jupiter, Saturn and Venus is the so-called 'ecliptic'.

It is about the projection in the sky of the plane that contains the Sun and the Earth's orbit.

By extension, this is called the 'plane of the ecliptic'.

It is in this plane where

the Moon must also be in order for an eclipse to take place

.

The other seven planets of the solar system also describe their orbits (very roughly) in the plane of the ecliptic, this is because the entire planetary family was formed from the same disk of gas and dust that surrounded the Sun in its infancy.

Distances and brightness

Although Venus, Jupiter and Saturn appear so well aligned and relatively close in the sky, these planets are located at very different distances: Venus is now 91 million kilometers from Earth, while the distances to Jupiter and Saturn are 715 and 1500 million kilometers, respectively.

To orient ourselves, let's remember that

the distance from the Earth to the Sun is 150 million kilometers

.

Their different distances, sizes and atmospheric compositions make

the three bodies show very different brightness

.

Venus is now 8 times brighter than Jupiter and 136 times brighter than Saturn.

Mercury and Mars

These days the little Mercury is also observable for a short time at dawn in the east, one hour before the sun rises. That is, it should be observed around 07.00 in the morning (peninsular time) and, as always,

from a place that has a horizon well clear

of obstacles such as mountains, trees or buildings.

On November 10, Mars will make its appearance, but still lower than Mercury.

That is to say, the

conjunction between the two small planets

will happen flush with the horizon and will barely be observable for half an hour.

November 10: Mercury and Mars at sunrise Stelarium / RB

Mercury is very bright (although about 30 times less than Venus in the sunsets), but Mars, in addition to being close to the line of sight to the Sun, is now on the other side of the star king, 385 million kilometers away, so it is hardly visible. To see it, you will have to look for an exceptionally clear place with a horizon perfectly clear of obstacles.

Good binoculars will be a good help

to get to distinguish the red planet.

The progress of autumn brings the sunsets forward.

And this, together with the time change last weekend, heightens our sense of nighttime.

Looking up at the sky, following the course of the same planets observed by our ancestors, even the most distant ones, in all civilizations,

makes us feel close to nature and the great history of humanity

;

makes us conscious participants in this ancient and mysterious cosmos, which surprises us with its generous beauty.

Rafael Bachiller

is director of the National Astronomical Observatory (National Geographic Institute) and academic of the Royal Academy of Doctors of Spain.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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