by Sam Davidson (760) 228-1977

Want a slice of heaven? Coming right up, sir. An unusual gathering of the planets in one small sector of the sky is developing. As if the Sun were calling for assembly all the traditional planets of yore will straddle old Sol producing a string of beads in the sky.

[Remember there was a time, a long time ago, when for about 1400 years, before Copernicus and Galileo, the highly respected Ptolemy's idea held sway: the Earth was the center of the universe -- a geocentric and very egocentric idea -- and the seven planets, including the Sun and Moon, wandered through the zodiac constellations. Astrologers, then and now, attributed human characteristics and events to the positions of the planets in their zodiac signs. Later on the effects of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto were added when telescopes led to their discovery.]

The jamboree starts in early April on two fronts.

Graphics courtesy Astronomy Net and Xephem

On the western front Mars, Jupiter (the brightest) and Saturn follow the sun down in that order. Then a little dance, very observable, is displayed when fast moving Mars splits the other two forming a cute triangle between April 6 and April 11. The show gets diminished as they all enter the glaring sunlight in mid month.

Meanwhile in the east, before the sun rises, a similar scene takes place between the inner planets, Mercury and Venus. You have to peek about 45 minutes before sunrise in early April to see the faster moving Mercury overtake bright Venus, both disappearing as mid-month takes them both farther toward the other side of the Sun.

By month's end only the Sun is visible. And here comes the Moon. On May 4, a new moon joins the gang. At high noon all seven will be high in the south; starting from the east the line up will be: Mars, Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, Sun, Venus and Mercury. Less than 27 degrees of arc covers them all. A few days later when the Moon and Mars leave the scene the effect will dissipate.

What does all this mean? Instability? Hardly, the solar system has been through this many times before. Also, the outer three planets are outside the picture. In essence it's a piece of cake...er, pie.

Astrologers will have a field day (days?) during this period. Lord help us if the our planet endures some earth-shaking or other momentous event. Heavy sunspot activity may be the real villain.

On April 8, Astronomy Day, a free star party will be held at the Hidden Valley Nature Trail in the Joshua Tree National Park shortly after sunset by members of the Andromeda Society, California.

Earth Day is on April 22. Do something.

Sam can be reached at samstar@inetworld.net