Get ready for the Venus/Jupiter conjunction
34 comments Print Me Email to FriendTonight is Thursday, Nov 27 2008
The dazzling planets Venus and Jupiter light up your southwest sky at dusk and early evening. They have been moving closer together in this part of the sky all month. Because these worlds shine relatively close to the horizon, you’ll want an unobstructed view to the southwest (in the general direction of sunset) for a ringside seat to the Venus/Jupiter show. Over the next several evenings, Venus and Jupiter join the moon to stage one of the year’s finest celestial attractions.
As close as Venus and Jupiter are this evening, they’ll move even closer together in these last few days of November. A few evenings from now – on Sunday, November 30 – these two worlds will be in conjunction, or lined up north-to-south on the imaginary celestial sphere surrounding Earth. The November 30 conjunction of Venus and Jupiter will be the closest evening pairing of these two brightest planets until February 16, 2010.
But don’t wait until 2010 to see this blazing pair. The Venus/Jupiter conjunction of 2010 will be so close to the sun’s glare that it’ll be hard to see. With that poor placement of the planets in mind, you’ll have to look further into the future – to March 15, 2012 – for a comparably good evening Venus/Jupiter conjunction. What does it all mean? Only that you must be sure to watch this year’s Venus/Jupiter spectacle while the opportunity is at hand!
As grand as the evening conjunction will be on November 30, the show will undoubtedly reach a climax on Monday evening, December 1, as the waxing crescent moon joins the scene.
I came to you to identify two beautiful stars I’ve been contemplating these past few days as my family goes thru a difficult time and you enlightened me. Thanks. Now I now they’re not stars but planets, Venus and Jupiter, and what a magnificent sight they are.
I came to you to identify two beautiful stars I’ve been contemplating these past few days as my family goes thru a difficult time and you enlightened me. Thanks. Now I know they’re not stars but planets, Venus and Jupiter, and what a magnificent sight they are.
Lucho,
The show will only get better in the days ahead! How about taking the family with you to watch the sunset and the sky’s two most brilliant planets meeting up in the twilight dusk? For more on the subject, read Venus and Jupiter in conjunction on November 30 and Celestial trio in December 1 twilight.
Clear skies!
Bruce
I run a trapline this time of year (unpopular to some of you but that is OK, I’ll fight for your dark sky rights too), and much of my activity since I have a full time job+ is after dark. I have been watching these two “stars” for the last month now. I knew they were planets. I guessed one correct, Jupiter, I am surprised the other is Venus. I didn’t think Venus got that high in the sky. I knew it was an inferior planet and always associated it as one of the low “stars” in the morning or evening. It has been awsome. I was wondering if they would come into conjunction before they did what stars do, start going the other way and that is why I googled “planets in the sky tonight”. They have become my friends over the last month, helping me guide myself on the dark trails I navigate after dark. I’m going to miss them. Truely on of the most spectacular sights I’ve experience in the night sky for a while.
Frank,
You’re right. Venus can only climb so high into the morning or evening sky. However, this planet will soar even higher on January and February 2009 evenings, setting roughly 4 hours after sunset. Venus will reach its greatest elongation east of the sun in mid January, then will sink westward toward the sun. In late March Venus will pass in between the Earth and sun, to transition from the evening to the morning sky. Please give the animals my blessing.
Bruce
My husband and I saw Venus and Jupiter as we were leaving our house at 6:30pm. They were so low on the horizon I waited for them to move thinking they were airplanes. When they didn’t move, I knew I had to come back in and do a search. Thank you for enlightening us!
My husband and I saw Venus and Jupiter as we were leaving our house at 6:30pm (Northern Minnesota). They were so low on the horizon I waited for them to move thinking they were airplanes. When they didn’t move, I knew I had to come back in and do a search. Thank you for enlightening us!
My husband and I saw Venus and Jupiter as we were leaving our house at 6:30pm (Northern Minnesota). They were so low on the horizon I waited for them to move thinking they were airplanes. When they didn’t move, I knew I had to come back in and do a search. Thank you for enlightening us!
I appreciate the information provided above. Thank you.
I think the coolest sight I have seen was last Friday evening and I hope you were able to enjoy it as well. From my perspective in Iowa, at 5:37 PM the space station passed Venus and Jupiter during its four minute trek from the Southwestern horizon to the Eastern horizon. Living in a cornfield, we were headed for town and pulled off on a gravel road then killed the lights to get the full effect. It was very impressive.
Great show this evening in the mountains of WNC! Jupiter and Venus lined up right over my house as I pulled down the long driveway. Enjoy it now. don’t wait.
My daughter and I noticed the two planets several days ago. We live in Hermitage, Tennessee, about 15 miles from Nashville. There are not as many city lights in this area compared to Nashville so the view of the planets is spectacular. I just had to check this site today to find out what planets were gracing our skies. Thanks for the info.
My son and I were driving back to our home for Thanksgiving, and seemed to be following these stars. (We were driving Southwest). He is 11 and is currently studying the planets in school. We guessed Jupiter, but thought Saturn for the second planet. We felt like the three kings following the star of the Magi as we made our journey across Tennessee.
What a sight to see! I’ve been watching these two stars (or so I thought) for last 3 or 4 evenings and when I saw them tonight I just had to do some research. Thanks very much for all your info. I’m so glad to finally know what I’m watching.
What a sight to see! I’ve been watching these two stars (or so I thought) for last 3 or 4 evenings and when I saw them tonight I just had to do some research. Thanks very much for all your info. I’m so glad to finally know what I’m watching.
Awesome!!!!!!!
The view from Nevada is spectacular!
It’s was wonderful to see these planets and learn about them. We will be following them and are awaiting the dec 1 twilight. Thanks so much for the info and your wonderful website!
Thanks for the clarification. A beautiful sight from my Mountain location her in Northern California. Hard to not think about those 3-wise men a few years back. ;-)
Thank you, the info was helpful and the planets very beautiful. CB
I have been watching these two Planets the past few weeks from Melbourne, Fl. We have had clear skies and the view has been spectacular! Tonight, Thanksgiving night, was especially beautiful. They are definitely moving closer to each other . At first I was not sure which planets I was looking at, although, I was fairly certain one of them was Venus. Thanks for the info.
Thank you for helping solve our mystery. My wife and I were outside after a wonderful Thanksgiving day as the twilight came on and saw the two bright objects which were shining so bright and beautiful in the sky. We guessed that one was Venus, but were puzzled by the other. What a treat. Thanks again. (From the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California)
Isn’t it wonderful to read the comments from people all over North America. We all share the same sky and the sense of wonder at the beauty above us. We live in Ontario, Canada. Happy Thanksgiving to our American friends!
Isn’t it wonderful to read the comments from people all over North America. We all share the same sky and the sense of wonder at the beauty above us. We live in Ontario, Canada. Happy Thanksgiving to our American friends!
Dear Bruce McClure, Many thanks for your article. I will observe the V&J Conjunction form Dhaka, Bangladesh and also try to take several photo.
Clear Skies!
Opu
Well we may be 6-7 hours to the East of the people posting comments in Mid-USA, but the star (planet) show is just as spectacular here in the North of England , just by Hadrian’s Wall.
Amazing sight tonight…watching for ISS tonight at 1730.I knew shuttle was docked with it but they have now undocked…there they ere,shuttle just ahead of ISS!.Beautiful sight ..with 2 planets in background.
Just came back from walking my dog & admiring the two planets giving a very bright display in the south-west sky. Thought I would check & came upon your info to realize what I was watching as they certainly caught ones attention. This from the Niagara region in Ontario looking over the Escarpment. Thank you.
To everyone,
It’s great to hear from all over North America and the world. Thank you for sharing your skywatching adventures with us. For anyone new to EarthSky, I wish to extent an invitation to newsletters and podcasts and to the EarthSky Community at facebook.
Bruce
I saw the two planets a couple of nights ago and thought they were airplanes since they are so bright. Tonight Im stepped outside to get wood for the fireplace and saw them again. I guessed the lower one was Venus but didn’t guess Jupiter. They are just so awesome. I love the Universe!! Even in cold Minnesota.
Amazing, told my wife that I had been watching what seemed to be landing lights at our local airport….searched to find out what I had found.
Thanks for the info and guidance as to what I am seeing.
Pete
As we stepped out to the store around 6:00 my partner and I were face to face with this wonderful display. We had to have the “No that’s one of the new radio towers by Cape Cod Bay” discussions until we got home to see someone had moved that new tower. Thanks for being here to settle our little family disagreement. The Dobson that I built with my son 10 years ago is going to be dusted off tomorrow.
I have been watching this from East Tn as I feed my horses and clean up the barn in the evenings. We have a 180 view south of the Great Smoky Mtns, and these lights in a clear sky over the mtns, lighting up the valley, are a sight to behold~!
“We all share the same sky” Years ago, a German exchange student who was staying with us was staring out at the moon over the mtns. I asked him if he was homesick. He smiled wisely and said, “It is all the same sky.” I have never forgotten that. It is nice to find it here.
Me and my family saw the conjunction over the sky from the northeast part of the sky.On December 1,2008 I was looking up to the sky.I saw it from my rooftop while I was putting chrismas decorations up.It was amazing
Me and my family saw the conjunction over the sky from the northeast part of the sky.On December 1,2008 I was looking up to the sky.I saw it from my rooftop while I was putting chrismas decorations up.It was amazing
I came outside from my business around 6:00 p.m feeling pretty distraught at the day’s slow business. I knew nothing about the Moon And Planets alignment..I looked up, and just stood there for a moment, in Total Awe..The Sun was setting below a line of Tall Palm Trees, and the Sky was Blue/Black with a “Tinge” of Orange on the Horizon from the Setting Sun..The “Thumbnail” Moon and Planets were Dazzling..It was Beyond Beautiful, and to my Suprise very Uplifting and Inspirational…It made me feel as if my problems were small, and that Life holds so much more than what I let bother me. I live in Phoenix, Arizona and It was Totally Awesome.