Milky Way and Planets Near Opposition
In this early May night skyscape,
a mountain road near Bursa, Turkey
seems to lead toward bright planets Mars and Saturn
and the center of our Milky Way Galaxy, a direction
nearly opposite the Sun in planet Earth's sky.
The brightest celestial beacon on the scene,
Mars,
reaches its opposition tonight and Saturn in early June.
Both will remain
nearly opposite the Sun,
up all night and close
to Earth for the coming weeks, so the time is right for
good
telescopic viewing.
Mars and Saturn form the tight
celestial triangle with
red giant star Antares just right of the Milky Way's central bulge.
But tonight the Moon
is also at opposition.
Easy to see near bright Mars and Saturn,
the Full Moon's light will wash out the central Milky Way's
fainter starlight though, even in dark mountain skies.