We're enjoying another delightful Spring day across southwestern Connecticut under mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 60s, which is just about normal for this time of the year. However, there is a gusty Northwest wind, but that is helping to keep a huge ocean storm well offshore. Some more clouds are expected tomorrow, but the rest of the week will be fairly quiet as daytime highs reach into the lower 70s by Friday.
You may want to get up a little earlier the next two mornings if you'd like to see a rare sight of three planets "clustering" together in the early morning sky. Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter will be involved in a series of conjunctions this month, and they will be joined at the end of the month by a waning crescent Moon. Twice this month three planets will converge in the sky to form a trio just above the Eastern horizon.
The first show happens the next two mornings. Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter will converge within 2.05 degrees of each other. Although they are millions of miles apart, Venus and Jupiter will seem to come within inches of each other in the sky, while Mars will appear to the lower left. Unfortunately, the best view of the formation will be in the Southern states. However, binoculars and telescopes should help, since earlier daylight makes the formation harder to see as dawn approaches.
A second celestial "show" happens ten days later on May 21. Another trio, this time formed by Mercury, Venus, and Mars, will crowd within a 2.13-degree circle in the early morning sky. Then late in the month, on three successive mornings from May 29th through the 31st, the waning crescent Moon will arrive, sweeping past Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and Mercury stretched out across the Eastern sky from the upper right to lower left.
The Moon and planets will rise into view during late twilight and will be visible very low on the East-Northeast horizon by sunrise. In order to see them, you shouldn't have any obstructions in your line of sight, such as trees or buildings in that direction. Since they'll be so close to the horizon just before sunrise, you may only see Venus and Jupiter with unaided eyes. It's still worth it, though. Good luck.
Paul
