To mark the event, Chabot will host special telescope viewing and a live planetarium show featuring the five visible planets -- Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus, and Mercury.

Chabot astronomer Ryan Diduck said all planets in the solar system rotate around the sun at different speeds. Saturn is the slowpoke, taking 30 years to complete one rotation, while Mercury takes just 88 Earth days.

"It's very easy to see them in different parts of the sky, but to get them all at one side of the Earth doesn't happen very often," Diduck said.

Stargazers should look to the western horizon just after sunset. Bad weather could obscure the view.

The program will be presented Friday and Saturday and April 2 and 3.

Chabot will host telescope viewing from 6:45 to 7:30 p.m. The planetarium shows will be presented at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.

General admission is $11 for adults and $8 for youths. The Sky Tonight Planetarium show is an extra $6 for adults and $5 for children.

Chabot is at 10000 Skyline Boulevard, Oakland. Call (510) 336-7300.

The Oakland Tribune: Cityside
Leanne McLaughlin, Managing Editor
(510) 208-6447
(510) 208-6477 Fax
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