Aymen Ibrahim took this image of Venus, Mars, Saturn, the Great Pyramid and
the Sphinx on May 13, 2004 at the Giza Plateau in Egypt. The planets are in
a line, known as the ecliptic. Saturn is toward the upper left. Venus is the
brightest object, and dim Mars is between them.
The same planets are visible now in the western evening sky, but Mars is slightly
above Saturn now. In particular, Venus blazes brilliantly. But you have to be
quick, as it sets shortly after the Sun, following it down in the West.
And Venus' days are numbered for this apparition. It is preparing to cross
in front of the Sun. When that happens, you won't see it at night, but for the
first time in 122 years many people around the world will spot the shadow of
Venus as it transits the Sun.
