Poster Maker: Feng Juan
What would it look like when 3 bright planets appeared near the Moon at the same time? According to astronomical science experts, on the eastern horizon in the early morning of March 28 and 29, the three planets of Venus, Mars and Saturn appeared in a pile of three planets before sunrise, along with the residual moon. This rare monthly visit to "Sanxingdui" is not to be missed.
At that time, as long as the weather is clear and the atmosphere is transparent, in a place far from urban light pollution, interested publics across the country can see the "same frame" of these four bright celestial bodies with the naked eye for a period of time before sunrise.
Since February this year, Venus and Mars can be seen in the low southeast before sunrise, and the distance between the two is relatively close; after entering March, Saturn, which rises and falls almost with the sun in February, begins to slowly enter people's field of vision, and the brightness reaches the level visible to the naked eye.
This is The Venus, Mars and Moon photographed by Tianjin astronomy enthusiast Yang Jing in the early morning of February 27, 2022 in downtown Tianjin. (Courtesy of me)
Xiu Lipeng, director of the Tianjin Astronomical Society and an expert in astronomical science popularization, introduced that if the weather is clear and the atmosphere transparency is good, at about 6 o'clock in the morning of the 28th, interested public will see a bend of the moon hanging obliquely in the sky facing the low altitude in the southeast. Not far to the left of the remnant moon, there is an unusually bright star, which is Venus that appears in the form of a "day star", with a brightness of -4.4. Taking Venus as a reference, observation will find that not far to its right, there is a star, which is the successful landing of Mars, the first Mars exploration mission on the mainland, Tianwen-1 probe, with a brightness of 1.1 magnitude; not far below Venus, a close observation will also find a star, which is Saturn with the name of "Lord of the Rings", with a brightness of 0.9 magnitude.
Monthly visit to "Sanxingdui". Comics Production: Astronomical popular science comics blogger EasyNight
It's rare for Venus, Mars and Saturn to "get together" so closely, last in 2010 and next in 2032. But this time, 10 years later, they are too close to the sun to observe, and they will actually be able to see them until 2040, so this year's opportunity is rare.
This is a close-up of Saturn, Venus and Mars taken by Beijing astronomy enthusiast Zong Haiyang (splicing). (Courtesy of me)
At the same time of the next day, these 3 planets and the remnant moon will be "in the same frame" again, but the mutual positions of the stars and moons will change slightly. "The remnant moon will then travel below Saturn, and Venus will be closer to Saturn." Xiu Lipeng said.
Poster Maker: Fang Jinyang
Xiu Lipeng reminded interested members of the public that if they want to witness the rare beauty of visiting the "Sanxingdui" every month, they must get up early. When observing, it is necessary to choose an open, open field of view and no light pollution in the southeast, which can be appreciated by the naked eye, and it is better to use ordinary binoculars to observe. If you observe in the city, due to the influence of morning light and light, you may only see "Venus with the moon".
Producer: Hu Qinghai
Planner: Liu Xinhui
Reporter: Zhou Runjian
Editor: Lian Changyan
It was co-produced by Xinhua News Agency and Tianjin Branch of Xinhua News Agency
Produced by Starry Sky Studios