In late June 2005, there was a dazzling planetary alignment in the evening: a conjunction of Venus, Saturn and Mercury, low in the western sky.

 

Venus, our Twin Planet, is the nearest planet to Earth; it is also the third brightest celestial object, after the Sun and the Moon. Saturn is fairly bright, and shines in a yellowish glow. Mercury, however, is sometimes inconspicuous, and is difficult to observe throughout the year.

 

Fig (1)

Planets Dazzle Alexandria

Venus, Saturn and Mercury over the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Plaza

Photo by Aymen Ibrahem, PSC, Senior Astronomy Specialist

 

On 22 June 2005, astronomer Aymen Ibrahem of the PSC photographed the trio of planets over the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Plaza. The photo shows the statue of Prometheus at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina as a foreground object; the brightest celestial object is Venus; Saturn is the star near the torch of Prometheus, and Mercury is to the right of Venus.

 

This photo was published last summer by several international publishers.

 

Further reading

Planets Over the Nile

http://www.bibalex.org/Eclipse2006/News_Details.aspx?id=53

Venus

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Venus&Display=Overview

Mercury

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Mercury&Display=Overview

Saturn

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Saturn&Display=Overview

 

 

Aymen Mohamed Ibrahem

PSC, Senior Astronomy Specialist