During the last few nights in July and the first few nights in August, Venus, Mars, and Saturn will form a small skinny triangle in the early evening sky. On July 31, 2010, Venus will form the point of the skinny isosceles triangle. Mars and Saturn will form the base. The triangle will be oriented to point downward and to the right very low in the western sky as soon as it gets dark.
On July 31, Mars and Saturn will be separated by only about 3 to 4 times the diameter of the full Moon. Mars has a reddish glow, and will be below Saturn in the sky. Venus will be less than the width of a fist at arm's length (for most people) below and to the right of Mars and Saturn.
Novice stargazers can easily spot Venus. It will be the brightest object low in the west just after dark. Stargazers can then use Venus to learn to identify the other two planets. They will be less than a fist's width above and to the left of Venus.
Stargazers with a near-perfect western horizon can also spot Mercury immediately after dark. Mercury will be barely above the western horizon. Continue from Mars and Saturn about two fists beyond Venus. Regulus, the brightest star in Leo, will be another fist or so beyond Mercury. Both Regulus and Mercury will, however, set very shortly after the Sun.
Comments
Thanks for pointing this out Paul. There was a crop circle on 7/25, composed of 5 circles that depicted this 3 planet alignment. So... you aren't the only one who thinks it's significant.
The crop circle had Venus at the center, and besides the normal significance of that planet, it has been observed to have a cloudy substance emanating from it lately. (Wish I cold give you links, but not allowed.) But I'll send links to anyone who whats them. hunt@eurekadsl.net
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