14
The Planets
The planets, our solar system companions, range in size and substance from moon-size rocky
bodies to giant gas balls, which could hold Earth 1,000 times over. To find the planets, you will
need information about their times of visibility. The included Astronomical Software CD or an
astronomy magazine will give you the locations of the planets as they change position from month
to month. The Internet is also an excellent source of information, offering star charts, maps, and
more!
The popular and more familiar constellations often provide the easiest landmarks to help find the
planet’s locations and paths of orbit. Most people have looked up at the sky at night and seen
some of the planets without even realizing it. A planet looks like a bright star but does not twinkle
like a star does; it looks like a tiny ball. Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are the easiest planets to
view. Mercury is dimmer, usually below the horizon, and more challenging to find.
Each of the planets provides interesting views. Venus is covered with clouds so all that is visible is
an extremely bright light, the brightest next to the moon. However, Venus, like the moon, goes
through phases. As it travels around the sun, different areas of its surface are illuminated,
producing crescent shapes of varying sizes. Mars is the red planet. When it is above the horizon, it
is noticeably red and stands out like a beacon in the night sky. The apparent brightness of Mars
varies as the planet orbits around the sun and throughout its period of visiblity, it will look brighter
or dimmer depending on its distance from Earth.
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and the second brightest next to Venus. Jupiter has
many moons, four of which are often visible through your telescope when viewing conditions
permit. As you watch them throughout the evening, you will see that they change position relative
to each other and to Jupiter. It is possible with careful planning to actually see one of the moons
disappear either in front of or behind Jupiter as it orbits around the planet. Another great feature of
Jupiter is its cloud belt. Jupiter is alive with weather activity and its clouds have formed over time
into belts visible through telescopes in the right atmospheric conditions.
Saturn, the second largest planet, is not as bright as Jupiter and so its moons are not as visible
through small telescopes. The large rings that encircle Saturn are spectacular to observe, however.
The planet and its rings appear pale yellow. The major division in the rings, the Cassini division, is
possible to see if you keep the telescope firmly in position.
Uranus and Neptune are the last of the solar system’s gas giants. They do not provide as
spectacular a sight as Jupiter or Saturn, but are nonetheless rewarding to see.
Beyond our solar system there are many more objects to be found. Galaxies, nebulae, and
star clusters abound!
Summary of Contents for CDB804AZ3
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