After spending the week on the TV and our appliances, we were all able to take a break from screens. Fortunately the weekend’s festivities are a full-fledged weekend entertainment for us, in the form of a rare three-planet connection with Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn. The last time this particular mix took place was in October 2015. Here is what you know about this the main celestial view of the weekend, and how you can see some planets.
Didn’t we just have a planetary connection?
As you may remember from seeing a news story about it every day for three months, on December 21, 2020, we received a treatment that “Great Coalition,” once in 800 years aka “Rionnag na Nollaige” aka “Kiss nam Planets.” That one had only two planets (Jupiter and Saturn), though surprisingly close to each other. The man this weekend these two planets – and Mercury – can be seen, though less frequently like the one last month.
How to look at the three-planet connection
The meeting of the three planets actually began last night, and is visible tonight, tomorrow (Sunday) Monday night and Monday. The planets below will appear in the west – close to the setting sunset – with Jupiter as the brightest of the three, followed by Mercury and then Saturn, according to EarthSky. The tightest group of planets will be tomorrow night.
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If you have clear skies in your area, you should be able to see the connection without binoculars – but if you happen to have them, you may also use them to get an even better view. The best time to catch the alliance is just after sunset – making it nice and early so the kids get a look before bedtime.
And if you miss this three-planet connection, another one comes up next month, featuring Mercury, Venus and Jupiter.