THE SOUTHWORTH PLANETARIUM
70 Falmouth Street      Portland, Maine 04103
(207) 780-4249      usm.maine.edu/planet
43.6667° N    70.2667° W  Altitude:  10 feet below sea level Founded
January 1970
2021-2022: CXII
"Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have never
forgotten this." -Anonymous

THE DAILY ASTRONOMER
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Morning Alignment

[image: PlanetaryAlignmentAprilBody.webp]
So, we found ourselves in something of a temporal quandary. First, the next
DA is scheduled to post on Tuesday April 26th, hence the date.
However, we needed to mention this weekend's planetary alignment which, of
course, precedes April 26th. The solution was simple: propel the Tuesday DA
back in time so as to make it arrive before the weekend alignment while
still retaining the Tuesday time signature: a highly complex causality
violating task that twisted the synapses like cotton candy filaments.

Every so often, the best of the night sky is visible in the morning.
Venture out this weekend and you'll see four planets! Venus, Mars, Saturn
and Jupiter!

Rising first around 3:20 a.m. is Saturn, followed about half an hour later
by Mars. Venus ascends above the eastern horizon by 4:20 a.m.  Jupiter then
follows just after 4:30 a.m.
The best time to observe the eastern sky will be between 4:45 - 5:15 a.m.
when all the planets will be readily visible above the horizon.   Once
civil twilight begins at 5:15 a.m. the dimmer planets (Mars and Saturn)
will quickly fade from sight.

At magnitude -4.0, Venus will be the brightest of all the planets, followed
by Jupiter (magnitude -1.9) then Saturn and Mars, both of which shine at
magnitude 0.9. Even though these two superior planets appear equally
bright, Mars exudes a distinct reddish glow.

Starting on April 25th, the waning crescent moon will join the gathering:
five solar system worlds on full display.   So, even if you can't leave the
enveloping comfort of a blanket laden bed so beautiful in both form and
function it seems as though it was crafted out of quintessence itself this
weekend, you'll have an opportunity to see the planets and moon early next
week.

As such alignments are not common events, we strongly encourage you to
awaken before sunrise to admire this procession of planets parading above
the eastern horizon.

To subscribe or unsubscribe from the Daily Astronomer:
https://lists.maine.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=DAILY-ASTRONOMER&A=1