TOP 10 NIGHT SKY EVENTS FOR 2009: BONUS

By Alan Dyer

BONUS: Jupiter and Neptune - May, July, December

You thought there were 10, but it's time for a bonus track! Throughout 2009, Jupiter will pass back and forth close to Neptune.

In late May (at dawn), mid-July (at midnight), and again in the third week of December (evening sky) both planets will be so close to each other they will visible in the same field of a telescope. This is pretty rare.

Fittingly, Galileo saw a similar meeting of Jupiter and Neptune in 1612. He noted an "unusual star" that moved near Jupiter, but failed to realize it was another planet -- Neptune. This planet remained unknown until 1846.

These are just the predictable events -- there's no telling if and when a comet might be discovered that will become very bright, or that long-awaited supernova will explode in our night sky!

Credit: Courtesy of TheSkyX™/Software Bisque

Article posted January 14, 2009.

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