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On Tuesday, March 28, five planets will be visible near the western horizon within 30 minutes after the sun sets. If your local sky conditions are clear at sunset, just find the moon and then scan the sky nearby. You will be able to see Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus bunched closely together. A good set of binoculars will certainly help.
This astronomical phenomenon does not happen very often. However, the year 2023 is a rare one as we will be treated to a second five-planet show in just a few months. Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will be available for viewing around June 17.
Based on this weekend’s sports, June’s second planetary alignment might produce a very unusual NBA Finals!
Throughout history, the effects of the full moon every have been blamed for any number of odd occurrences. Police have often stated that crime statistics peak and odd occurrences are more likely during full moon events.
If that’s true, I wonder what oddities are being caused by having the gravitational pull of a quintet of planets lined-up in a row?
Let’s consider this weekend’s sporting events.
EXAMPLE 1 – THE NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNEY
First, can you remember a more topsy-turvy men’s March Madness basketball tournament?
If you selected your NCAA March Madness bracket with at least one #1, #2 or even a #3 seed advancing into the Final Four in Houston this weekend, you are out of luck!
After this past weekend’s wild and crazy action, there will be three teams in Houston making their very first men’s Final Four appearance. The last time that oddity happened was in 1970.
Ninth seeded Florida Atlantic (Conference USA), #5 seed San Diego State (Mountain West), and #5 seed Miami (ACC) will making their first appearance on the biggest national stage this Saturday evening.
The #4 seeded University of Connecticut from the Big East Conference rounds out the finalists. The Huskies have won the men’s basketball tournament on four occasions (1999, 2004, 2011, and 2014). Speaking of lucky number four’s, UConn has yet to play even one tight contest in any of their first four games of the NCAA tournament.
I suspect their improbable run of having four straight breezes will come to an end in Houston sometime this weekend.
On Saturday night in Houston’s cavernous NRG Stadium, Florida Atlantic will lead-off the Final Four against San Diego State in the opening game (5:09PM Central time on CBS). UConn and Miami will play the nightcap tipping off around 8PM Central.
The 35-3 Florida Atlantic Owls have no fear of playing the higher seeds. Starting the tournament with a surprisingly weak #9 regional seeding, the FAU Owls have defeated a #8 (Memphis), #16 (Fairleigh Dickinson – which beat top seed Kansas), #4 Tennessee, and #3 Kansas State. Does anyone think FAU will be quaking in their basketball shoes as they consider playing the #5 seed San Diego State? Me, either.
Meanwhile, San Diego State took down #1 seed Alabama in Round 3. The 31-6 Aztecs defensive intensity has allowed opponents just 57 points per game on average through four games. The Aztecs’ next opponent (“Frantic Atlantic”, as I like to call the Owls) features a free-wheeling offense and three point shooters galore. This defense vs. offense match-up should be a dandy to watch.
The most hated men’s college basketball team in the state of Texas right now is the University of Miami.
The #5 seeded Hurricanes took down Houston’s favorite local team (#1 seed University of Houston) last Friday night. The 29-7 Canes then had the audacity of beating another Texas fan favorite, the #2 seed University of Texas on Sunday evening.
Miami is responsible for causing thousands of Houston and Texas basketball fans to sell their Final Four tickets early this week, and, most likely, causing many to suffer a financial loss. The Canes will definitely be wearing the black ten-gallon hats in Houston, Texas on Saturday night.
The 29-8 Connecticut Huskies have been good and a bit lucky thus far. On Saturday night, the Huskies faced #3 seed Gonzaga. The leading scorer in this year’s NCAA men’s tournament, Drew Timme of Gonzaga, committed two quick fouls during the opening two minutes of the second half against UConn. He sat down with four fouls. UConn’s ten point lead at the time quickly exploded to 25 as the Zags offense stagnated without their leading scorer on the floor.
Game, set, and match to UConn. The Huskies will face Miami in Saturday’s second national semifinal game.
EXAMPLE 2 – CITY OF SHREVEPORT DOMINATES PRO GOLF SUNDAY
Turning our attention to professional golf, this week’s 5-planet alignment was extremely good to two professional golfers hailing from Shreveport, Louisiana.
PGA golfer Sam Burns and his mentor, David Toms, both won professional events by a wide margin on Sunday afternoon.
Facing PGA Tour #1 golfer Scottie Scheffler in his home state of Texas during the semi-finals of the lengthy five-day Dell Match Play event, Sam Burns prevailed in extra holes to beat the reigning World #1 player and advance into Sunday’s finale.
While thousands of Austin, Texas golf fans scurried home to watch their beloved Longhorns lose to Miami’s basketball team Sunday evening, Sam Burns (who attended Calvary Baptist High School in Shreveport and played for LSU) turned on the heat Sunday to win his match against Cameron Young. Burns birdied eight of ten holes to close out the match leading by six holes with just five holes remaining. In addition to earning his fifth PGA Tour victory, Sam Burns carried home $3.5 million for the victory in this grueling seven match event.
In southern California, this week’s Champions Tour senior pro golf event saw Shreveport resident David Toms (who also played college golf at LSU) win for the second time in the past three events. DT shot a seven-under par 65 on Sunday and breezed to a four shot win at Mission Hills Country Club (longtime former home of the Dinah Shore LPGA event). This was the fourth senior tour win by David Toms.
It’s hard to believe that David Toms recently turned 56 years old!
What were the chances that two Shreveport golfers who both played collegiately at LSU would win tournaments on the same Sunday in March?
Yes, this must be the work of that 5-planet alignment!
NEED MORE PROOF? KIM MULKEY AND THE LSU LADY TIGERS
Speaking of LSU, coach Kim Mulkey’s Lady Tigers won both of their games in the women’s NCAA basketball tournament over the weekend. The #3 seed LSU took down #2 Utah on Friday night and then dispatched #9 seed Miami (Florida) on Sunday to lead the Tigers into the Women’s Final Four this weekend in Dallas. LSU is now 32-2 on the year and will face the winner of tonight’s game in Seattle between #1 seed Virginia Tech and #3 Ohio State. That game will be played in the Women’s Final Four in Big D.
This marks LSU’s first trip to the Women’s Final Four in 15 years. If they should win their semifinal game, the LSU Lady Tigers will appear in their first championship game in program history.
Does anyone want to bet against this LSU women’s basketball team on a week where the 5-planet alignment is happening?
Go outside and enjoy Tuesday evening’s twilight show in the western skies featuring Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Uranus all lined-up for your astronomical delight.
And expect the unexpected this week!