If you look west, shortly after sunset, Venus is hard to miss. It’s a bit south (to the left, if you’re in the northern hemisphere) of the spot on the horizon where the Sun sets, and up about 10 or so degrees, roughly the width of your fist held at arm’s length.
If you wait a few more minutes, and look a bit up and to the left of Venus, you’ll see Jupiter. Normally Jupiter is very bright, and obvious. But it’s on the opposite side of the Sun from us now, over 900 million kilometers (575 million miles) away. Worse, it’s near the horizon, so the twilight dilutes it, and if you have any pollution or haze, it’s dimmed even more. Being so close to Venus in the sky doesn’t help either!
And it’ll get closer. Over the next few days, Venus and the big guy will draw ever closer, and on Thursday night they’ll be about 1 degree apart– the width of a finger held at arm’s length! That’s pretty close.
In reality, they’re about 750 million kilometers apart (about 470 million miles). Venus is brighter because it’s a lot closer to us. But our lack of perspective makes them look right next to each other in the sky. They don’t get this close very often, so this is a real treat. Since they are also the third and fourth brightest objects in the sky (after the Sun and Moon, of course) this apparition, as it’s called, is even more spectacular. You can read more about this at the Sky and Telescope magazine website.
Every day, if I can, I’ll take a picture and post it here so you can see them getting closer. The picture above was taken in my back yard on Sunday night, August 28, an hour or so after sunset. Click it for a higher-res version. At that moment, the planets were about 6 degrees apart.
Now stop looking at my picture and go take a look for yourself!
August 29th, 2005 at 4:39 am
I would, if it wasn’t raining. Over at " onclick="javascript:urchinTracker('/outbound/astroblogger.blogspot.com/2005/08/stargazing-at-sandy-creek.html_br_/');">astroblog is a picture from Friday night of the pair just above the roof of the wilderness youth hostel we stayed at over the weekend. That was my last good view of them, and it doesn’t look like I’ll be getting another soon [sigh]. But hey, I got to see the Venus, Mercury and Saturn Conjunction, so I’m not going to complain too loud. All I can do is agree with Phil and say, “Get out there and look”, you won’t regret it (and take pictures so I can share it, pretty please).
August 29th, 2005 at 4:55 am
It is raining here in the UK too; typical Bank Holiday weather
. Thanks for the nice pictures of the planets Phil and Ian. Ian also has some cool images of last week’s aurora seen from Australia and Tasmania.
August 29th, 2005 at 6:09 am
And here, where I am, in the city, there is light pollution. Can hardly see jupiter.
Auroras are beautiful. Imagine, hand in hand with your love and well wrapped in warm clothes on a cold cold winter night in the quivering light of the aurora. Nothing could beat that.
Btw, is Venus called both “morning star” and “evening star” in English-speaking countries too?
August 29th, 2005 at 6:28 am
Hi Phil! I found your blog! neato! thanks for posting about the Venus Jupiter apparition. I am looking forward to reading more of your entries. Its been rainy and muggy here in Nova Scotia all week but hopefully it will be nice tonight!
August 29th, 2005 at 6:59 am
Well, Venus does appears but it is hard to make out between a star and venus with an unaided eye.
Well, Mr.Phil we also have an astronomy web news log
http://www.exploreuniverse.com/astrolog
Kind request … Please add this link in your blogroll
Thanks in advance
August 29th, 2005 at 7:08 am
I saw on Astronomy.com that Venus, Jupiter, Spica and the Moon will make a neat appearance together on September 6th! That’s something I’d like to see as well.
But hum, curse the woods. D’oh.
August 29th, 2005 at 7:30 am
An Urgent Message on SpaceDaily.com somewhat off the topic BUT:
Shuttle External Tank Factory Facing Catastrophic Ruin From Katrina
New Orleans, Louisiana (SPX) Aug 28, 2005
NASA has had some close calls from hurricanes before. Its huge launch facilities at Cape Canaveral have suffered moderate damage on several occasions. And each time, observers of the US space program have speculated what would happen if a major hurricane struck the Cape and destroyed the Vehicle Assembly Building, – the irreplaceable heart of Shuttle launch operations.
Now it seems that the killing blow may occur hundreds of miles to the west, at the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans where the Space Shuttle’s external propellant tanks are manufactured. Hurricane Katrina is now heading almost directly toward this vital installation.
The main factory building dates back to World War II and probably won’t stand up very well to 160mph winds. It seems that only a major weakening or track change by the hurricane can save Michoud from a serious beating.
Because of the stand-down in Shuttle operations since February 2003, there are now seven complete External Tanks stored at Michoud (plus components for 8-10 more). All of these tanks may well be destroyed or seriously damaged. There are two Shuttle tanks still safely at KSC, but they were supposed to be barged back to Michoud for modifications that cannot be made at the Cape.
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/hurricane-05w2.html
August 29th, 2005 at 7:47 am
Wont there be an occultation on september 7 ? The moon sould occult atleast one of the planets. They appear so close on sky charts.
Venus and Jupiter appear quite bright even in evening even with light of the sun and other lights in the city. Its an amazing sight.
August 29th, 2005 at 9:02 am
hey good picture… I did a post like this one a few days ago but used stellarium instead, I’ll try to get a picture, but with this weather in Venezuela this time of the year you never know.
August 29th, 2005 at 10:51 am
Yes Sameep, the moon will occult Venus (from South Africa and Antarctica), and Spica (from Siberia and Kamchatka) on Sept 7. Everyone else gets to see near misses.
-Andy B
August 29th, 2005 at 12:17 pm
Nice. Last night my wife and I were driving home heading west just after sunset and saw this. Jupiter was a bit dimmer than in the above photo but still obvious.
August 29th, 2005 at 12:44 pm
Assuming that viewing in Tampa isn’t disturbed by another passing hurricane, I’m gonna get out the 8″ Dob for a look-see. I actually haven’t seen Venus with the scope, yet, so all the more reason to check out the conjunction.
August 29th, 2005 at 8:20 pm
I was up at Kitt Peak on Saturday night and got to see Venus and Jupiter from the top of the mountain. SPectacular view!
Rob
August 29th, 2005 at 8:26 pm
I’ve been taking photo’s too- the problem is that I don’t have a digital camera, drives me nuts as by the time I get them developed it’s all over.
August 29th, 2005 at 10:20 pm
I’m “old school” as well–using film instead of digital. Oh, well… hopefully the pics I took two nights ago of Jupiter & Venus over a lake turned out OK. (Have to get the film processed ASAP!)
October 12th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
im going to see the Queen at the new football stadem and see her car and her hellie copter and i will wright a message to you and i hope i get a poster back from you two mile ash middle school at Milton Keynes england the high school