Sky-event alert: Venus joins Jupiter after sunset
This Thanksgiving weekend, the sky's two brightest planets stand poised to pass each other in evening twilight. A slim crescent Moon will join the pair December 1.
Posted: November 25, 2008
 Jupiter joins Venus at the end of November. The two planets lie just 2° apart after sunset on the 30th. Astronomy: Jay Smith [View Larger Image] Throughout this period, Venus appears 7 times brighter than Jupiter. Even so, Jupiter easily outshines every other starlike object in the sky. To add to the drama, a slender crescent Moon passes the planet pair after sunset December 1. "Although all three objects shine bright enough to see just 30 minutes after sunset, the scene grows more spectacular as twilight deepens," said Astronomy magazine Senior Editor Richard Talcott. The trio doesn't set until 3 hours after the Sun. |
| Tools to help you observe Venus and Jupiter StarDome Astronomy.com's interactive star chart, StarDome, displays an accurate map of your sky. It'll help you locate this spectacle. Astronomy magazine subscribers have access to a slew of cool functions with StarDome PLUS. Podcast: Venus and Jupiter Each week, Senior Editor Michael Bakich highlights three targets visible in the night sky. One object you can see without optical aid, one you can see with a small telescope, and one deep-sky object you can see with an 8-inch or larger telescope. In this week's episode, he highlights Venus and Jupiter and explains how to enjoy this Thanksgiving sky feast. Listen to podcast. |
 Such close encounters between Venus and Jupiter happen fairly often. Frequently, however, these conjunctions occur close enough to the Sun that the planets appear in a bright sky. The two last met in February's predawn sky, although their altitude then was less than half of what it is now. Viewers will have to wait until March 2012 for Venus and Jupiter to have another nice evening conjunction. |
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