The Planet Quiz Show  


Answer:  Planets are bright and they don't twinkle

Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are usually brighter than the stars in their immediate neighborhood. Planets also shine with a steady light. Stars, especially on a windy night, will appear to twinkle very rapidly, while a planet in the same area of the sky will twinkle very slowly. The specialized word used by astronomers for twinkling is scintillation.


[Moon and Mercury Meet]
The moon and Mercury meet briefly after a beautiful sunset near Coopersburg, PA. on January 9, 2008. Mercury can be found just below tree level, right of center in the picture. Gary A. Becker image...

Picture of Capricornus
Where is the planet Saturn?  This picture of the constellation of Capricornus, the Sea Goat, was taken by Gary A. Becker on November 4, 1991 at 7:30 p.m. Can you find the planet Saturn in the image? Scroll down to the next picture which is a star map for that date to see of you were correct.

 

Map of Capricornus
The stars and planets as they appeared on November 4, 1991 at 7:30 p.m... I'll bet you knew which one was Saturn all along.

 

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