Mars Lone Planet On June Evenings

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30146, 1 June 1963, Page 13

Mars Lone Planet On June Evenings

In the early evening sky. Mars Is the only planet visible. At present it is passing very close to Regulus, the brightest star of the constellation Leo the Lion. Tonight and tomorrow night, they will be closest to one another; but, from then on they will draw steadily further apart. As they pass Mars will appear to be the lower of the two as well as being distinguishable by its reddish colour

Later in the evening. Saturn will be seen to rise somewhat to the south of east. It is brightening slightly as its distance from the earth continues to diminish By the end of June, Saturn will be rising before 9 p.m and will be well worth looking for with a telescope or binoculars from about 11 p.m. onwards The rings are still tilted sufficiently to provide a wonderful sight, although they are gradually closing towards the appearance of a straight line.

Before daybreak, the planet Saturn is to be seen high in the western sky.

while Jupiter, Venus and Mercury adorn the north eastern sky Jupiter is quits high and appears almost as brightly as Venus, which is much lower in the sky. Mercury is making another of its fleeting appearances as a morning planet and. as often Is the case, it will not be easily seen.

Search for it on the mornings of June 6 to June 9 when it will be to the right of Venus Mercury will be rising higher each morning while Venus retreats towards the horizon. By the end of June, Mercury will be heading back towards the sun and will overtake Venus, again passing on the right but much closer to Venus than before. They will be closest on the morning of June 28. Mercury will brighten considerably during the month, but when it passes Venus for the second time both planets will be very low in the north-eastern sky and almost lost in the glow of morning twilight. They may be found below the stars which form the horns of the constellation Taurus the Bull.