<div dir="ltr"><p align="left"><font color="#FF0000"><strong>THE GREAT NAKED-EYE PLANET SHOW: </strong></font>The
mainstream media is buzzing with news about astronomy: From now until
Feb. 20th, anyone who wakes up before sunrise can see Mercury, Venus,
Mars, Saturn and Jupiter all at once, no telescope required. These are
the five brightest planets, and they are a beautiful sight lined up from
east to west in the predawn sky. </p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://spaceweather.com/images2016/27jan16/skymap_27jan16.png?PHPSESSID=hkp7pe09klvl173aor6p9mf3b7"><img src="http://spaceweather.com/images2016/27jan16/skymap_27jan16_strip.gif" alt="" height="304" width="512"></a></p>
<p align="left">Although the planets can be
seen any morning for the next 4 weeks, there are some dates of special
interest. As January ends and February unfolds, the Moon will hop from
planet to planet, acting as a can't-miss guide for novice sky watchers.
The action begins on <strong>Feb. 1st</strong> when the half Moon is only a few degrees from the red planet Mars in the constellation Libra: <a href="http://spaceweather.com/images2016/01feb16/skymap_01feb16.png?PHPSESSID=hkp7pe09klvl173aor6p9mf3b7">sky map</a>. Two mornings later, on <strong>Feb. 3rd</strong>, a fat crescent Moon passes by Saturn, only a few degrees away: <a href="http://spaceweather.com/images2016/03feb16/skymap_03feb16.png?PHPSESSID=hkp7pe09klvl173aor6p9mf3b7">sky map</a>. And finally, best of all, on <strong>Feb. 6th</strong>, the slender cresent Moon forms a lovely triangle with Venus and Mercury just ahead of the morning twilight: <a href="http://spaceweather.com/images2016/06feb16/skymap_06feb16.png?PHPSESSID=hkp7pe09klvl173aor6p9mf3b7">sky map</a>.</p>
Circle these dates on your
calendar--and set your alarm for dawn. The Great Naked-eye Planet Show
is a great way to start the day.<div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr">
<p style="margin-bottom:0in"><font color="#222222"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font style="font-size:9pt" size="2">----</font></font></font></p><a href="http://www.gilbertfranke.com" target="_blank">Gilbert A Franke</a><br>(361 442 6008 - cell)<br>130 N Harris Street<br>Bellville TX 77418<p style="margin-bottom:0in">
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