Steve Jasiecki/4:45 a.m. April 16, the moon, Mars, Saturn and Jupiter are in alignment in the southeast sky just before dawn.
By STEVE JASIECKI
Wake up early in the morning just before morning twilight, and you will be able to see three planets in line and in close proximity.
Mars, Saturn and Jupiter can be seen very clearly before dawn in the southeast sky forming a straight line tracing out a path called the ecliptic. The ecliptic is the flat plane planets travel as they orbit the sun. This plane is in line with the celestial equator, which is the path the sun takes as it arcs its way across the sky moving from east to west.
The photo above taken on April 17 clearly shows the orbital plane of our celestial neighbors.
Mars, because it is in a closer orbit to Earth, is moving faster and is pulling away from Saturn and Jupiter, putting distance between the two further planets. Watch them through spring and summer and you will notice that all three are spreading farther apart and ever so slightly getting brighter. That's because Earth is catching up to them and by July we will make our closest approach to both Jupiter and Saturn.
Jupiter and Saturn will reach opposition in July while Mars will reach opposition in October. Opposition is when the sun, the earth and an outer planet are in alignment. This is the closest approach the earth gets to a planet and its best viewing opportunity.
The moon and three planets clearly mark the celestial equator, the path the sun takes as it travels across the sky. The arrows point to the planets and show the direction the planets are moving against the background of stars.
You won't need to get up early too much longer to see these planets since Earth's inner, faster orbit is catching up to them. By summer, we will see them in the night sky, and by July, you will be able to see them all night long. But now is the time when we can see them close together and this gathering of planets gives a viewer a clear perception of the ecliptic plane.
Steve Jasiecki is chairman of Sustainable Margate
