TriState Astronomers

This is not a click-bait attempt claiming you can see 6 planets in alignment across the sky. Good luck with that. Those articles fail to mention that you need a telescope to see Neptune, very good eyesight and dark skies to see Uranus which is usually mistaken for a faint star. Or that Mercury is close to the Sun and sets 20 minutes after you might see it using binoculars if inexperienced.
This is an opportunity to track our 2 brightest, most beautiful, easy to find planets to find and track them as they move to join up in 7 weeks - Jupiter and Venus.

Jupiter is overhead shortly after sunset (30-45 minutes), faint at first but very bright at full darkness near the twin stars, Castor and Pollux. Due west and lower in the sky is Venus, also brighter than any star.

Use the span of your hand to judge the gap between them tonight or a clear night soon. We passed Jupiter in our orbit 4 months ago so it is falling away from us, gradually getting lower in our sky. Meanwhile Venus is heading towards us, getting higher in the sky each night. The gap between them will grow smaller for the next 7 weeks until they look like this picture - a conjunction.

This picture from March 2023 shows what they will look like on June 9.

So start tracking!

Join or renew your membership in the TSA!
https://www.tristateastronomers.org/join-renew-donate

Free and open to the public!

There are still openings for our telescope clinic this Saturday March 7 from 10am until 2pm in Waynesboro Pa. Sign up now for your 1-on-1 support to fix and understand how to use your telescope. Contact Buttonwood Nature Center or send an email to [email protected] to reserve your spot.

The Poor House Farm Park Star Party for Saturday March 7 is CANCELED due to predicted cloud cover.

The TSA Stargazers Hoedown:
https://gemini.google.com/share/26f08fe76db1

Send a message to learn more

Has that telescope been sitting in the closet or attic because you've never been able to see anything through it? Then this telescope clinic is for you. Turn that dust-catcher into amazing views of craters on the moon and planets in the sky!
Free 1-on-1 help to get it working and show you how to use it
REGISTER NOW AT [email protected]

Registration is still open for your FREE one-on-one help with setting up and understanding your own telescope. Email [email protected] to schedule your reservation!

Registration is still open for your FREE one-on-one help with setting up and understanding your own telescope. Email [email protected] to schedule your reservation!