Holiday Sky Show: Five Planets to Shine in Predawn [View All]

Holiday Sky Show: Five Planets to Shine in Predawn

Brian Handwerk
for National Geographic News

December 16, 2004


A heavenly show awaits stargazers this holiday season: Over the next few weeks sky-watchers can spot five planets in the same nighttime sky.
The planets, visible to the naked eye, will appear spread across the sky in the minutes before dawn. Mercury, Venus, and Mars will shine in the east, while Jupiter will hover overhead, and Saturn will hang in the west.

"It is something that happens every so often," said Deborah Byrd, producer and host of the Earth and Sky syndicated radio series. "Sky-watchers know how special that is."

Read the full story >> http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1216_041215_five_planet_sky.html