Five Planets in Alignment ~ Already In a Sky Near You!

Starting yesterday and happening until around February 20th, 5 planets will be in alignment and visible to the naked eye in the pre-dawn hours of the morning. Here's EarthSky's information on this event. 

You'll have to get up a little earlier than today's morning shot at 6:27 a.m.

This event isn't terrifically rare, but rare enough. "Alan Duffy from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia, told Australian Geographic that the alignment is "essentially a quirk" of the universe. "There are only a few amazing things in the night sky that can be seen without any equipment." "

I like certain quirks, especially of the celestial sort. In 1982 there was an alignment of the nine planets. I took my daughter Sarah to the beach, having heard we could lose gravity momentarily (remember The Jupiter Effect?). Of course, I didn't want not to quite believe it but taking my six year old to the beach in the wee dark hours of the morning to look at the sky and maybe, just maybe lose gravity even for a second seemed like a great idea. We didn't lose gravity but we did have a good adventure (any time you can wake your little kids up and steal off into the night to do something fun is a good time).

This is a great article about the origins of the 'losing gravity' theory, as well as more information about the Jupiter Effect. 

Illustration from the Redlands Daily Facts (Jan 16, 1975)

Ah well, it's all fun and games until someone believes everything they read!

Our skies have been pretty clear in the early hours, so if you can get yourself out of your cozy bed, check it out.

Have an oh wonder! Wednesday. Do something watchfully.