Planetary Aperçus: Featuring Saturn and Uranus

Spoken literally from the French, aperçu is an "outline or summary" or even a "glimpse," which is what this article will give you: an impression of two planets, although rather dim when viewed by the naked eye.

SATURN GOES RETROGRADE: FEBRUARY 8, 2012

This Wednesday, February 8, 2012, Saturn will begin to go retrograde. It rises around eleven pm to midnight, in the east, and reaches the zenith around 5 am. At that time, Saturn will be seen in Virgo, west of Spica (although it will vary among locations). Its retrograde period will signify better viewing, as it will rise earlier. "Saturn will be rising earlier each evening with each passing day. It’ll soon be in a more convenient place for evening viewing," EarthSky.com reminds. Saturn will be at magnitude 0.5, so spotting it shouldn't be that hard.

What is, precisely, retrograde motion? Covered in detail when Mars went retrograde in January 2012, apparent retrograde motion is the visible, backward orbit of a planet as viewed from earth, due to the orbit of that planet. On account of the fact that earth orbits quicker than other planets (particularly the outer planets; although the inner planets (Mercury and Venus) exhibit it rather differently), earth, from time to time, will "overtake" a planet of note (such as Saturn), causing that planet to look as if it travels in reverse, periodically being motionless for a few days before and after the event. As earth then passes the planet again, we can see that it resumes its old orbit (which is normal: west to east). [There is a visual at the Mars link above]

Saturn will be at opposition April 15, 2012. Opposition is literally when Saturn is closest to earth, and brightest in the sky, but until then, Saturn's retrograde is a spectacle! Early June marks the end of Saturn's retrograde motion. Read more about Saturn from EarthSky.com. From NakedEyePlanets.

URANUS AND VENUS CONJUNCT

So vibrant will be these two planets over the next few days. Venus has been shining strong, being the second brightest object in the night sky at magnitude -4.1 (although it will be brightest when the moon goes new), and now, just 0.3 degrees beneath it will be Uranus, bluish-green! Interesting to note, Uranus shines at magnitude 5.9, almost 10000 times dimmer than Venus!, and the brighter will lead you to the dimmer. Both planets are presently in Pisces.

A Divine Winter Astronomical Jewelbox

Not only has Venus and Jupiter become important and beautiful figures in the winter sky (for us in Northern Hemisphere latitudes!), but the moon has added to the excitement in viewing these jewels, in their jewel box: the night sky. Although the moon presently is obscuring many stars and dimmer planets, Jupiter and Venus shine on strong, with Mars, Mercury, and Saturn pulling along nicely as well. You too can view these planets, and not only with just a telescope or binoculars, Jupiter and Venus are visible just with the naked eye.

If you look to the southwest over the next few nights (late January to early February), Venus and Jupiter rise after sunset, and are in full stature by the sun has pulled itself under the horizon. On January 31, the moon and the Pleiades cluster will gracefully (and by all means aesthetically!) crown Jupiter, and Venus to the south of it. This might create a beautiful winter astronomical scene, minding the weather and potential cloud cover. The moon is currently the brightest object in the sky, the second, Venus, and the third, Jupiter tonight, as it will remain until the moon becomes new again.

Below are personal photos of the Jupiter-Moon conjunction on January 30, 2012. The time was approximately 6:00 pm EST, and as you can see, the moon was high and brightly shining! Jupiter was south of the moon, and left, in the picture below. The following picture is that of Venus, with clouds and trees in the background.

Although this might seem like nothing now, "consider this a preview of even better things to come," Spaceweather.com encourages! The two planets are going to become closer to one another, with the moon "swinging" in late February. That is when another conjunction of the planets will take place (remember the Four-Planet Dance of 2011?). March 12 the major conjunction when Venus and Jupiter converge within a 3 degree angle. "The winter planet show is just getting started, so stay tuned!"

February 3, 2012 places the moon in "the Winter Circle," as EarthSky.com illustrates below. By this point, the moon will be almost full, and bulging with scintillation! The moon is situated in Orion, as you can see Rigel and Betelgeuse being part of the star group. Capella crowns the circle, with Castor and Pollux to its left. Aldebaran is on its right.

As we fully divulge into winter, remember the planets and how beautiful they are: they are jewels in this wonderful jewel-box!