| In late 2004, we see Venus coming to the close of its best pair of apparitions for northern hemisphere observers in its eight year cycle, which sees an inferior conjunction in Taurus in June. Here it is joined by Mars, which is just beginning a long apparition that will end with an opposition in Aries in late 2005, and Mercury, starting a very nice morning apparition that will see it at its best in early January 2006. Our view of three planets this morning is part of a larger and extremely rare parade of planets in December 2004. |