The bright planets at a glance

The sky at Berlin, 2004 March 24 at 18:30 UT (by Starry Night)

A rare planetary constellation will happen from the end of March until the beginning of April 2004: all of the bright planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will be visible at a glance. While viewing the 4 easily seen planets you can see the shape of the celestial sphere. Start with Venus in the west and end with Jupiter in the east and imagine a curved line passing from Venus thru Mars and Saturn ending with Jupiter... The five bright planets and the Earth will be within a sector of 90° of the ecliptic plane: 2004 Mar 24 at 18:30 UT: the bright planets and the Earth within a sector of 90° heliocentric longitudes: L(Earth) - L(Mars) = 184.5° - 94.5° = 90.0° Geocentric view on 2004 Mar 24 at 18:30 UT: the bright planets within a sector of 139.3° Geocentric longitudes: L(Jupiter) - L(Mercury) = 161.4° - 22.1° = 139.3° Horizon view at Berlin, 2004 Mar 24 at 18:30 UT The bright planets within an azimuth range of 160.4° Altitudes: Sun -10.2°, Mercury 5.5°, Elongation of Mercury from the Sun 17.7° E, Moon 14.1% illuminated Horizon view at Berlin, 2004 Mar 24 at 18:30 UT   For latitudes greater than 75° N or 20° S it will be difficult to see Mercury.

2004 Mar 24 at 18:30 UT

© 2004 Juergen Giesen