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[Music]

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sunset triangle presented by science at

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nasa

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sunset is often the most beautiful part

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of the day

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low hanging clouds glow vivid red and

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orange as the background sky turns

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cobalt blue

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the first stars pop out in the heavenly

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dome overhead drawing hopeful wishes

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from young sky watchers

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it's a special time

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the sunset of may 26 will be extra

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special

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on that date the fading glow in the

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western sky will be punctuated by a

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three-way conjunction of bright planets

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venus

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jupiter and mercury will form a tight

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triangle only three degrees wide

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triple conjunctions of planets are

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fairly rare

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the last time it happened was in may

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2011 and it won't happen again until

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october 2015.

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this triple is especially good because

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it involves the three brightest planets

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in the may night sky

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number one venus

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number two jupiter and number three

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mercury

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the triangle will be visible even in

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places with heavy urban light pollution

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the best time to look is about 30 to 60

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minutes after sunset

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the three planets will be hugging the

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horizon so a clear view of the western

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sky is essential

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let venus be your guide it pops out of

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the fading twilight long before the

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others

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as soon as you locate venus look in that

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direction using binoculars

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if your binoculars are typical all three

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planets will fit in the eyepiece

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simultaneously

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as the twilight continues to fade set

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the optics aside

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eventually the triangle will become

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visible to the naked eye

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you don't have to wait until may 26 to

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enjoy the show however

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the planets start gathering weeks

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earlier

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dates of special interest include

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may 11th through 13th when the crescent

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moon venus and jupiter form a long

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diagonal line jutting upward from the

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sunset

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may 23rd when jupiter and venus converge

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to less than five degrees apart

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close enough for simultaneous binocular

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viewing

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may 24th when mercury passes venus less

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than two degrees away giving shape to

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the triangle that reaches maximum

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compactness two nights later on may 26th

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the triangle begins to disperse on may

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27th but even then the show is not over

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on may 28th venus passes jupiter at a

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distance of one degree forming a truly

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spectacular pair

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from beginning to end the three naked

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eye planets will be close enough to fit

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inside the field of ordinary binoculars

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from may 23rd until early june

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may 26th is just the best among many

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very good nights

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step outside

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face west and observe the planets

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it's an extra beautiful way to end the

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day