TJC Earth and Space Science Center director talks this week’s planetary alignment

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - It’s the start of a planetary alignment, where five planets are visible on the western horizon, just after sunset.

You can see Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Uranus and Mars. Dr. Beau Hartweg, director Tyler Junior College’s Earth and Space Science Center, said the easiest to spot is Venus, the third-brightest object in the sky, just behind the sun and moon.

”It’s a rare event; it doesn’t happen all the time, you know, every three or four years, and sometimes it’s different planets that are in there that we can see up in the sky at different times,” Hartweg said. “And so, whenever we have a chance to inspire people to get outside and go look up at the sky, we always encourage people to do so.”

He said although you can see the five planets for the next two weeks, until April 12, the best time to see all five will be Tuesday evening.

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