A planetary alignment is a rare spectacular event that has always been a topic of great interest and speculations. Some predict the end of the world, others see the start of a new golden era. This May the world will witness the alignment of six planets.
行星連成一線這種罕見奇觀一直是人們關(guān)注和爭(zhēng)相猜測(cè)的焦點(diǎn)。有人認(rèn)為這預(yù)示著世界末日,有人則認(rèn)為這預(yù)示著一個(gè)新的黃金時(shí)代的到來(lái)。今年五月世界將目睹“六星連珠”的奇觀。
Every morning in May the naked eye will be able to spot Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Mercury, and with a small telescope one can see Uranus and Neptune. 30 minutes before sunrise, the morning sky will show all the planets aligned across the sun’s path, except Saturn.
在五月期間,人們每天早晨都可以用肉眼看見火星、木星、金星和水星,用小型望遠(yuǎn)鏡還可以看見天王星和海王星。在日出30分鐘前,在清晨的天空可以看見各大行星排列在太陽(yáng)路徑上(土星除外)。
The planets line up was expected on December 21, 2012, that’s when fortune tellers predicted the end of the world and scientists awaited a spectacular show in the sky. However modern equipments and tools have showed that in 2012 no alignment will occur.
曾有人預(yù)測(cè)行星連珠會(huì)在2012年12月21日出現(xiàn),科學(xué)家們期待的這一天空奇景發(fā)生時(shí)也就是算命師所預(yù)言的世界末日到來(lái)之時(shí)。然而,現(xiàn)代儀器的觀測(cè)表明,在2012年不會(huì)發(fā)生行星連珠景觀。
Instead, a visible alignment will be seen throughout the entire month of May. For the past two months Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Uranus and Neptune were not visible because of their location behind the sun, but starting May all planets started to line up above the rising sun.
但是,在今年整個(gè)五月期間都可以看見明顯的行星連珠景觀。在過(guò)去兩個(gè)月,人們都無(wú)法看見火星、木星、金星、水星、天王星和海王星,因?yàn)樗鼈兊奈恢谜幱谔?yáng)背面。但從五月開始各大行星將太陽(yáng)升起位置的上方連成一線。
On May 13th, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter will form a "bright celestial triangle", and on May 20th, a new triangle will form. The show will end on May 30th, when the moon will join the four planets, and five "heavenly lights" will be seen at once in the morning sky.
5月13日,水星、金星和木星將形成一個(gè)“閃亮天體三角”,之后在5月20日,還會(huì)形成一個(gè)新的三角。這一系列天體景觀將在5月30日結(jié)束,月亮將加入這四個(gè)行星,五大“天光”將一同在早晨的天空出現(xiàn)。
Planetary conjunctions are rare events, therefore people who have the chance to enjoy the changing alignment of the planets every day in May, should not waste the chance. No worries, it doesn't mean that the world is ending. Interesting is how the doomsayers' predictions never seem to come true.
行星連珠是罕見的景觀,因此有機(jī)會(huì)欣賞五月每日行星排列變化的人千萬(wàn)不要錯(cuò)過(guò)這一良機(jī)。不用擔(dān)心,行星連珠并不意味著世界末日。有趣的是,末日預(yù)言家們的預(yù)言似乎從來(lái)沒有實(shí)現(xiàn)過(guò)。