Look up! A whole row of planets is visible in the Kansas City sky this week
Shoot for the stars and aim for the moon, as many planets will be visible around Kansas City after sunset from Dec. 8-12.
The Star’s service journalism team talked with David Young from the Powell Observatory to learn more about what you can see in the sky. Stargazers are in for a treat.
WHAT’S IN THE SKY?
You can see Venus, Saturn, Jupiter and the moon in a row throughout the week starting Wednesday Dec. 8.
Young tells us that you may need a telescope or binoculars to see the rings of Saturn or the moons surrounding Jupiter, but everything else is easily visible from anywhere in the city with your naked eye.
“These things are so bright, you don’t even have to get away from the city lights to see them,” Young said. “These, the planets, the moon and Jupiter are bright enough that I can easily see them from my house in south Kansas City.”
WHAT’S THE SCHEDULE?
On the night of Wednesday, Dec. 8, the planets will be in order from left to right: Venus, Saturn, the moon and Jupiter at sundown. It’ll happen just before 5 p.m. and as the night goes on, the Moon will move to the east of Jupiter.
This alignment is common, and it’s attractive because of the three bright planets and the moon illuminating the sky, Young said. You might even be able to see Venus in the daytime. It’ll also be the first planet you see as the sun begins to set.
Thursday and Friday’s alignments are the same as the moon continues to move east: Venus, Saturn, Jupiter and the moon. The planets will have more space between them each day, making it a can’t-miss showing.
The planets will be visible through the weekend.
WHERE’S THE BEST VIEW?
He said to walk out of your house and look west. If you have a clear horizon to the west, you’ll see the alignment right at sundown. As the evening wears on, Venus will start getting low.
All the planets and the moon will be moving west throughout the week as the Earth orbits the sun. In about a month, these planets will be below the horizon and hard to see.
This story was originally published December 8, 2021 at 3:41 PM.
