QUOTE
Two bright planets are closing in for a spectacular conjunction with the Moon in the evening sky. Venus, which is steadily moving away from the Sun, meets Jupiter as it prepares to leave the night-time stage.
Both are brilliant objects, with Venus at magnitude -4 and Jupiter at magnitude -1.9, and visible soon after sunset in the south-west. If the sky is clear where you are, you can't miss them even if you are surrounded by streetlights.
You will also notice if you watch from one night to the next how rapidly the two worlds are moving towards each other. They will be at their closest on 29 November when they are less than three degrees apart.
Two nights later, the crescent Moon arrives on the scene to complete a stunning sight above the south-western horizon. And from much of Europe, there will be an added spectacle as Venus is covered, or occulted, by the Moon.
Both are brilliant objects, with Venus at magnitude -4 and Jupiter at magnitude -1.9, and visible soon after sunset in the south-west. If the sky is clear where you are, you can't miss them even if you are surrounded by streetlights.
You will also notice if you watch from one night to the next how rapidly the two worlds are moving towards each other. They will be at their closest on 29 November when they are less than three degrees apart.
Two nights later, the crescent Moon arrives on the scene to complete a stunning sight above the south-western horizon. And from much of Europe, there will be an added spectacle as Venus is covered, or occulted, by the Moon.
Skymania Article
