PAGASA: Rains may hamper Friday night view of 3 planets

Isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms threaten to hamper stargazers and astrologers' view of at least three of six planets during the weekend before the country's first nationwide automated elections. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said parts of the country may be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rains. "Visayas and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming widespread rains over the eastern section of Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening," it said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. PAGASA's astronomical diary said Venus will be visible at 7 p.m. Friday at about 8 degrees above the western horizon and will be shining at magnitude -3.7. It will be located among the background stars of the constellation Taurus, the Bull. At 9 p.m., Mars will be found at about 8 degrees above the western horizon and will be shining at magnitude +0.8. At about the same time, Saturn will be located overhead and will be shining at magnitude +0.8. It will be found among the background stars of the constellation Virgo, the Virgin. On the other hand, Uranus, Jupiter, and Neptune may become visible at 4 a.m. Saturday. The three will be at 18, 20 and 39 degrees above the east southeastern horizon and will be glowing at magnitude +5.9, -2.2 and +7.9, respectively. "Jupiter and Neptune will lie among the background stars of the constellation Aquarius, the Water Bearer while Uranus will be found among the stars of the constellation Pisces, the Fish," it said. But PAGASA also said a modest size telescope will be needed to observe Neptune and the Blue-Green planet, Uranus. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV