3 Planets converging on Leo Constellation

[Philosophaie]

Venus, Mars and Saturn are converging on the Constellation Leo at the end of the month. I would like to find the Right Ascension and Declination of these planets given the obliquity, the true anomaly, the radius from the sun and the inclination.

 

[phyzguy]

RA and Dec of any of the planets for a chose time period are available at the JPL website at the link below:

http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi

 

[Philosophaie]

I would like to calculate RA and DEC for dates into the future using the data from:

http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/txt/p_elem_t2.txt

 

[phyzguy]

This is not a simple problem, since you not only need to calculate the position of the planets relative to the sun, but also calculate the position of the Earth, then convert everything into geocentric coordinates, correct for the equation of time, etc. However, here is a good website showing how to do it:

http://www.stargazing.net/kepler/ellipse.html

 

[sardar]

I would first clarify that the term "converging" in this context refers to the apparent movement of these three planets in the sky, as seen from Earth. In reality, they are not physically converging or coming closer together in space.

To determine the Right Ascension (RA) and Declination (Dec) of these planets, we would need to know the date and time of the observation, as well as the location on Earth from where the observation is being made. This is because the RA and Dec of celestial objects change depending on the observer's location and the time of observation.

Given the obliquity (tilt) of the Earth's axis, the true anomaly (angular distance from the perihelion point), the radius from the sun, and the inclination (tilt) of the planets' orbits, we can calculate the RA and Dec using mathematical formulas and astronomical tables. However, this would require specific values for each of these parameters, which are constantly changing due to the planets' orbital motion.

Therefore, the best way to find the RA and Dec of these planets would be to use an online astronomy tool or planetarium software that can calculate and display their positions in real-time. This would provide the most accurate and up-to-date information. Alternatively, one could also consult an astronomical almanac or ephemeris, which contains detailed tables of celestial coordinates for various dates and times.

In conclusion, while it is possible to calculate the RA and Dec of these planets using the given parameters, the most accurate and practical way to find their positions would be to use an astronomy tool or reference material. This would provide the exact coordinates for the specific date and time of the observation, allowing for a more precise and reliable analysis.