FROM TODAY'S PRINT EDITIONS:
This week stargazers have a rare chance to see a close pairing of the planets Jupiter and Mercury. Jupiter is the bright “star” already visible low in the west, about 45 minutes after sunset. Starting tonight, if skies are clear, Mercury should be visible as a dimmer “star” below and to the right of Jupiter. Each evening Mercury will climb nearer, passing Jupiter Tuesday evening — just 2 degrees apart. After that, Mercury climbs to Jupiter’s upper right, as the giant planet sinks slowly into the sunset.
(PHOTOS: Left, Jupiter, NMASA/ESA/Hubble; Right, Mercury, NASA/Johns Hopkins, APL)