Evening Array

For skywatchers in the United States, a grouping in the western evening sky right now is a case of the haves and the have-mores. The group is visible across the entire country. But the view gets better as you move farther south. The group features the planets Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury, and the stars Pollux and Castor – the “twins” of Gemini. Venus is the brightest member, with the twins to its right, and Jupiter and Mercury to its lower right. All five members of the group are near the ecliptic – the Sun’s path across the sky. And the angle of the ecliptic varies by latitude. As seen from the equator, the ecliptic stands almost straight up from the horizon at sunset. The Sun drops straight down below the horizon, so the sky darkens quickly. At the same time, Venus and the others stand fairly high above the horizon. They’re still well up as twilight fades. As you go farther north, the ecliptic tilts toward the south. The farther north you are, the greater that angle. So when the Sun sets, it doesn’t drop straight down – it also slides across the horizon. As a result, the sky remains bright for much longer than it does at the equator. Venus and the others are lower in the sky at sunset, so they’re more likely to be blocked by trees or mountains. And they’re immersed in the twilight longer. That leaves less time to enjoy this beautiful group of planets and stars in the evening sky. Script by Damond Benningfield