Celestial trio in December 1 twilight
103 comments Print Me Email to FriendTonight is Monday, Dec 01 2008
Yesterday, the blazing planets Venus and Jupiter were in conjunction at dusk and early evening. Yet, this evening’s sky show will probably supersede yesterday’s attraction. What is it about these gatherings of objects in the night sky that’s so alluring? Hard to know, but I’ll tell you that Venus and Jupiter will be almost as close together this evening as they were last night. What’s more, this evening, the waxing crescent moon will join the show in earnest, appearing very near the two brightest planets.
The view will be spectacular with the eye alone, although (it must be said) these objects are fairly low in the twilight sky as seen from the northern hemisphere. Oh, to be in the southern hemisphere now, where the trio stands high in the sky after sunset! No matter. People around the world will look up to see and be amazed by these worlds.
As seen from most of North America, the heavenly threesome will fit within a single binocular field of view. If you live in Europe, however, you might not see Venus for a portion of the evening tonight, because the moon will occult – pass in front of – Venus, blocking this world from view. Information on this occultation is available at the International Occultation Timing Association.
Look closely at the moon through binoculars and you might see the soft glow of earthshine on the dark side of the moon. The waxing crescent moon is about 16% lit up in sunlight and 84% in darkness. But as seen from the moon, the phase of the Earth is exactly the opposite, with the waning gibbous Earth about 84% illuminated in sunshine and 16% in darkness.
By the way, if you were standing on the night side of the moon tonight, you would see an almost full Earth lighting up your lunar landscape!
How often does this conjunction occur?
Mike,
There are 2 Venus/Jupiter conjunctions in 2008 (February 1, December 1). Looking ahead, there is no Venus/Jupiter conjunction in 2009, then one Venus/Jupiter conjunction per year from 2010-2014. There are 3 in 2015, one in 2016, one in 2017, none in 2018, 2 in 2019, and none in 2020.
If I was on the moon, how often could I see a ‘full earth’ at night?
Thanks, we will check it out but the mountains in CO may hinder our viewing. Saturn, my 5 year olds favorite planet is going to be seen sometime soon. Can you tell me when, and in what part of the sky? Thanks.
The Earth would be full when the moon is New.
Will and Susan,
Yes, Mighty is correct. The Earth would be full when the moon is new. You’d see the full Earth from the moon as often as you see the full moon from Earth: once a month.
Susan, Saturn rises into the eastern sky after midnight and shines to the south at dawn. We’ll have EarthSky Tonight shows about the moon & Saturn on December 16, 17 & 18, so keep an eye out for these programs. Saturn will be at its brilliant best in March 2009, when it’ll shine from dusk till dawn!
Bruce
HOW COME ON SOME DAYS THE MOON CAN BE SEEN IN THE SKY
HOW COME ON SOME DAYS THE MOON CAN BE SEEN IN THE SKY
Does anyone know if you are able to see the celestial event in the sky if you live in Japan? If so, could you post back here to let me know? Thank you!
I am in the southern hemisphere and just been out for a run in the state forest in Brisbane Australia. The moon, Venus and Jupiter are beautiful in a clear sky with the rim of red on the horizon.
CAN THE WHOLE WORLD SEE THIS MAJESTIC VIEW?
I’m writing from Manila, the moon and the two planets look like a smiling face (the two planets are positioned above the crescent). It’s a lovely sight.
Looking at the sky from India the view is spectacular. Jupiter and Venus are above the moon and it looks like smiley face :)
May we learn to smile a little from this event =)
I’m in Thailand (land of smiles) and it’s only fitting to have a smile in the sky after all the fighting and the airports closed down..maybe we can take this event and learn to smile upon one another.
Peace~
In South India, Kerala, Kottayam, Kudamaloor we saw a fantastic sight… The two celestial bodies are just above the points of crescent. looks like a mouth with two eyes… Someone looking at you from the sky?????????????
Hi, this is a photo from Hong Kong tonight. What a wonderful smiley face!
link text
So good to hear from our friends from all over Asia and in Australia! Allan, thank you for the photo of the sky scene as seen from Honk Kong. I managed to find the link to the photo, despite not knowing Chinese.
Bruce
Its 21h25 now in Mauritius and we can also see the smiley face. The dark side of the moon is visible too, large and clear.
I’ve just seen it from Croatia, Southeastern Europe. Venus is very close to the Moon on the dark side of the crescent. Jupiter is on the oposite side a little above.
It’s beautiful, and looks like a symbole from some state flags (Turkey or Pakistan)
Its 10.05pm in Maldives we have seen the smiling face on the sky and lots people ask whats happaning and no one can give an answer, to get an answer while sitting in the office i thought google may help me to find something, so I got the answer very easily “THANKS A LOT BRUCE MCCLURE” As im working in a five star resort few minutes back i was on the beach as we had few guest having dinner (mostly european) they ask me whats happening and is this something normal but i was not able to answer the only word came out from my mouth was i have never seen this in my life.
what a wonderful sight in the night sky!creates a feeling of peaceful melancholy…
I’ve just been standing on my back doorstep in Littlehampton, West Sussex, England and although I have not had the pleasure of seeing the smiley face our southern hemisphere friends have enjoyed, with jupiter and, especially, venus so close to the crescent moon it is truly a beautiful sight! I love moon-watching (a complete amateur!) and I don’t ever remember seeing this before. Quite beautiful!
I am in Devon, England and I have just witnessed Venus (under Jupiter’s watchful eye) slowly appear as the moon finished it’s occultation; leaving a majestic trio to drop below the horizon, absolutely fantastic. Er, I also saw a single bright flash to the right of the moon just prior to Venus making it’s appearance; any idea what it may have been?
Thanks for the info, I have posted photos taken from Johannesburg South Africa at http://www.flickr.com/photos/onlyinsouthafrica/ for those interested.
I am in Devon, England and I have just witnessed Venus (under Jupiter’s watchful eye) slowly appear as the moon finished it’s occultation; leaving a majestic trio to drop below the horizon, absolutely fantastic. Er, I also saw a single bright flash to the right of the moon just prior to Venus making it’s appearance; any idea what it may have been?
hi..i hve just seen the sky and ..wow…am in lusaka zambia and the show is spectacular…
Great threesome view from Pretoria, South Africa around 20:15 SA time. The crescent appeared to be almost horizontal to the West-South-West horizon; and a planet on each tip. By 21:00 only one planet was visible. Would that have been Jupiter on the “western” tip – the one that was visible for longer?
Seeing ths from Cape Town,South Africa-amazing-strange sightings in the heavens.
Seeing ths from Cape Town,South Africa-amazing-strange sightings in the heavens.What significance in astrology?
AWESOME! i am in beirut, Lebanon and what i saw tonight is the most amazing thing ever!
makes u think, doesn’t it??
I’m from New Jersey, USA. I’ve always liked looking at the night sky when I was still in the Philippines (we get dark skies there = lots and lots of stars!) but here in NJ where I live now, there’s a lot of light pollution =/ So I’m hoping I’d still be able to see this wonderful planetary conjunction tonight or I’ll be missing a lot :(
what time will it show up eastern time?
@nic: this will be visible at around sunset, so just keep watching the sky near the setting sun! As the sun sinks farther below the horizon, the sky will get darker, and the planets and crescent moon will become more and more prominent. Soon, though, the planets and moon will set as well. The actual time of sunset and moonset depends on your latitude.
I live in Cape Town, South Africa, and managed to get a few nice pictures. If you guys are interested, I could either post it on the site, or simply email it through to you. It was absolutely spectacular from here….
Hey I saw that from Beirut, Lebanon, and I thought it would be 2 planets since they appear quite early in the evening, and they are very bright. Amazing! I was able to take a picture, and if you zoom in the picture, you can see the dark side of the moon, full sphere. would you like to see it? the moon from over here at the time I captured it was below the planets.
The planets were beautiful and th moon! the real universe reveals it’s beauty!!!!! please send me those pics from capetown!!!!!!
When will the moon,Jupiter,and Venus all be so close together again?
A beautiful sight this evening enough to take the breath away from the most harden of people. Not the smiley face as seen from the Southern hemisphere but just as aweinspiring from the South of England. My son said it looked like a child’s drawing of a night sky, full of wonder and innocence.
Pascal from South Africa (comment #21) sent photos of the hapeening. And to LB from Pretoria, South Africa (comment #28), Jupiter was the first of the two planets to set. To everyone: yes, I’m interested in seeing your photos.
Bruce
I’m not a regular night sky observer, but the sight tonight really got my attention. I’m oberving this from Trinidad,W.I. It’s AWESOME!
Here on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts,we were lucky to see this spectacular grouping for a short time before the cloud cover returned. It was a beautiful sight from our old farmhouse over the juniper trees to the west. Now it can rain and hail some more.
saw it tonight from Ellicott City, Maryland- USA ….
Was a gorgeous sight in shades of dark blues and greys after a big storm … gorgeous!
Smiller (comment #38),
I just read a news article that apparently answers your question. According to Jack Horkheimer, director of the Miami Space Transit Planetarium, the moon, Venus and Jupiter won’t be this comparably close and visible again until November 18, 2052. But then, the trio will appear in the morning – not the evening – sky.
By the way, Julia’s son said (comment #39), “it looked like a child’s drawing of a night sky, full of wonder and innocence.” Beautifully stated!!
Bruce
looks fantastic and my tripod has failed – anyone have a good shot from the austin area?
My grandson may be born tonight and his name will be Orion…
How appropriate.
What a view from Houston. Big city lights can’t hide this amazing sight Thanks to this WEB page too because I didn’t know what I was seeing. WoW!
Hi everyone,
I’m 7 years old in Austin and I loved seeing the way it looked like an upside down sad face to me.
Hi everyone,
I’m 7 years old in Austin and I loved seeing the way it looked like an upside down sad face to me.
Hi everyone,
I’m 7 years old in Austin and I loved seeing the way it looked like an upside down sad face to me.
In astrology with Jupiter over Venus violence rules over love. The events in Mumbi prove that. God has a plan have faith.
My children and I caught this awesome trio together!!! My youngest was totally enthralled. I only wish I could have gotten a better picture.
To Marlene who asked the Astrological significance of this conjunction: The Moon symbolizes emotional effect, Venus represents love, beauty, art & music, and Jupiter enlarges & makes all seem beneficial. Put these qualities together and watch what happens! As an example of the effect of this conjuntion, a Lady at work today said she went to an amazing artist colony over the weekend, and was extremely touched by the peaceful happiness and natural expression of harmony there. Once I realized this conjunction was occuring, I was not at all surprised.
This is awesome! I’m in fifth grade and my teacher is a weather freak. So she assigned the class to observe and draw a picture of tonight’s sky. I can’t wait to see another planet.
This is a really great website!!!! Thanks a bunch!!
I live near Houston and it is really bright. Thanks for the information all.
i cant wait to see something like that
can you tell me
i live in sterling virginia …where should i look to the sky ….north south or what?
thanks
pamela
While looking at the lovely trio this evening through our telescope, we saw behind Venus, another sphere that was shadowed. What might that be?
Here in San Francisco, it’s 5:48 pm and it looks like there is a planet sitting directly above Venus – not just a distance to the upper right of it – it looks like something is sitting “directly” on top of Venus. I must be seeing things, because that is more likely what they’re seeing in the Southern Hemishphere tonight. However, it really caught my eye. Venus looks twice as big as it usually does! It’s just wild! Now, of course the fog is coming in and out but it is still spectacular when the fog parts. I sure wish I were somewhere down under right now……sigh. I love the night sky!
I am driving to austin from houston on 290. thre are 2 stars? beneath the moon?
I am in central Kansas and saw the moon with Venus and Jupiter just after dark. One thing we have here are clear, black night skies and it was really beautiful. They became further apart over the next couple hours but it was still a wonderful thing to watch.
We can see it in Houston, Texas. It was neat!
Was’t there a time in the not to distant past when three of the inferior planets were in conjunction?
I am 8 years old from New Jersey, USA. I saw the moon and planets at 5:20pm. I thought it was so Amazing! Mom and I looked it up on the internet. I can’t wait to tell my classmates.
Hi! I saw this awesome juxtaposition of Jupiter and Venus with the waxing cresent moon about 6:00 pm this evening. The trio were low in the sky and brilliant.
From Owings, Maryland Darlene
I was so distracted by what I saw in the sky tonight that it was difficult to drive and marvel at the same time! When I got home I just stood there for awhile and then had my family take a look also. I’m not familiar with the night sky and sought an answer to what we were seeing. Thanks for the answer to my question.
Hello, Is it only tonight and for how long. How can one get on your notice list. When I found out about the happing it was over in Texas, ART
I saw this two nights ago at a college foot ball game in the Coliseum in Los Angeles California. Found out the detail for earthsky.org and e-mail tens of my family and friends.
Fabulous view even in northern Manhattan! Happened to look up and south crossing Broadway at W. 215th St. and saw three bright lights stacked up one over the other to the right of the low hanging crescent moon. One was a jet making its way to land at LaGuardia or Kennedy, and at first I thought there were 3 planes lining up one after the other. But, of course, the brightest 2 lights weren’t moving. So lucky to have seen this in light-polluted NYC.
Thank you everyone for visiting EarthSky Tonight and telling all your friends about our site. Moreover, you are invited to subscribe to EarthSky programs and to join the EarthSky community at facebook.
Bruce
Thank you for the info… Too bad here in Napa, CA.. The fog has covered my visuals on Jupiter, Venus, and Moon.
I took a picture of it here is where you can look at it http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/3/12/1/f_CelestialTrm_caaecb5.jpg&srv=img26
I captured this in Dallas Texas (Farmers Branch).
I looked out of my balcony this evening and noticed the moon. I then Google tonight’s lunar date and found out what it was all about, i was very impressed.
Cheers
FT.Lauderdale Florida
I was happy to see it here in New Jersey, USA. Here are some pictures I took at around 6:00 pm today:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51762635@N00/
While in some countries, it looked like a happy face, from here it looked like a sad face.
Will we be able to see this spectacular sight on the 2nd as well?
hi! i’m in new orleans…and oh my word! venus and jupiter are huge over here. my 2yr old was looking up at the sky with big eyes, pointing desperately. i finally looked and saw them. tonight he learned word, “planet”. it was cool because he somehow knew it was not a star.
We live in Connecticut, USA – when will we be able to see it or at what time tonight?
Thanks
what a lovely sky – when we came out of work tonight we looked up and saw how beautiful it was – wouldn’t it be great to have such a beautiful, peaceful site each night? Thank the Lord or such beauty!
what a lovely sky – when we came out of work tonight we looked up and saw how beautiful it was – wouldn’t it be great to have such a beautiful, peaceful site each night? Thank the Lord or such beauty! Lanham Maryland
The night sky is usually spectacular anyway here in the desert in California, but tonight even better. We see the event upside down, so it looks like a frown, so glad to hear that so many people saw it as a smile tonight.
Sue in Palm Springs, California
I have seen Venus and Jupiter several month ago-about from 1st,July.They are in the south-westsouth sky.They are there about 21:00pm everynight before I go to sleep.One is brightest and the other is not that bright and looked somewhat tiny no matter the day when moon has its round face.But in the rainy nights I can’t find them over there.
From Tulsa, Ok. it was spectacular.
my email:aurora@live.ca
I am so curious about that why all the people haven’t found them several months ago?I am totally puzzled about it.I would love scientist tell me the truth.
Walked out of work tonight in Miami and it caught my eye. Not into this sort of thing normally but had to check it out online, really nice!
Really s’day in sky a beautiful face appeared… Actually 2 plantes Venus & Jupiter looked like 2 eyes & Moon looked like smiling mouth…
How is it that you can see both Jupiter and Venus even though Venus is between the earth and the sun? I’m having a hard time picturing it.
Hi,
We’re among the last ones to witness this beauty. We’re in Kihei on the island of Maui, just about the last time zone. Crystal clear, whatever clouds there are aren’t obstructing the view. The three shine brightly. Venus is at 5 oclock to the moon with Jupiter farther to the right.
Thanks to this site for explaining what is in the beautiful night sky. I just moved to Arizona USA this year, and the view of the stars every night is fantastic. This current phenomenon especially!
I live in Silver Spring, MD and the view after sunset was spectacular tonight…I didn’t feel slighted not living in the Southern Hemisphere!
I saw it from. reading,ma,usa.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Would love to see it from the south.
Oh my god i saw this but had no idea those where planets! LOL i even told my dad..“kool look at that, it looks nice 2 stars besides the moon” and now that im watching the news i found out that they were planets!! NO!! I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN A PICTURE!!
Spectacular site. This link has a photo that I took from California and from there you can see how some friends photographed the event in India and Australia.
http://flickr.com/photos/cschneider56/3076380592/
I’m in Washington, D.C.
Saw it driving home earlier in the evening. It was beautiful!
Could this be the very same Bethlehem star coocured in 2 BC ?
I’m in Washington, D.C.
Saw it driving home earlier in the evening. It was beautiful!
Could this be the very same Bethlehem star that occured in 2 BC ?
I live in southwest nebraska and the crescent moon was below Venus and Jupiter last night but tonight(Dec 1st) it was reversed and the moon was above the planets. are we a day ahead?
i’m obviously not an astronomer, but I love to watch the sky and it was a truely beautiful sight.
bruce! i have a question cause you seem very knowledgeable about these stuffs….. uhhmmm… do you think it mean something…i mean the trio of the moon and the two planets???
bruce! i have a question cause you seem very knowledgeable about these stuffs….. uhhmmm… do you think it mean something…i mean the trio of the moon and the two planets???
Last night at dusk I took a photo with the current conjunction of Venus and Jupiter above a group of people watching lava flowing into the ocean here on the south shores of the island of Hawaii and posted it on my Flickr site:
here for those that may like to see it.
Bruce,
Thanks for the info. I saw the fantastic sight ( simly face ) yesterday night and took some photos also. I wanted to post it on this. I could not do so. Though the photos are not very professional, you can have a look into it.
If you can give your email ID, I can send it to you and if it is OK, you can share it.
Regards
R
Hi, I am in Lahore, Pakistan. The sight of the two planets and the moon was beautiful and somehow the entire heavens above seemed to be in a festive mood ! I loved it !!
Was absolutely incredible in Madagascar. Perfectly clear sky. A first for me to see such an alignment. Just amazing!
Bruce:
First of all, thank you for the article, it reminded me to look up that night! I do have a question though: I always thought all the planets in the solar system (and the moons orbiting around them in the case of Earth, Jupiter, etc.) were supposed to move around in almost the same 2D plane (I believe it’s called the ecliptic plane or something close to that), if this is the case, wouldn’t the Moon, Venus and Jupiter form a single straight line in the night sky rather than a triangle? Or are the slight differences in their actual orbital planes enough to make them appear to be in such a formation?
Kind regards,
Jose Vera
Hose,
Yes, the Earth’s orbital plane is called the ecliptic. And, yes, you are quite right. There are slight differences between the orbital planes of the Earth, Earth’s moon and the solar system planets.
For the fun of it, let’s say the moon orbits the Earth on the same plane that the Earth orbits the sun. In that scenario, we’d have a total solar eclipse at every new moon and a total lunar eclipse at every full moon.
Thank you for writing!
Bruce