Keep watching moon, Venus, Jupiter
97 comments Print Me Email to FriendTonight is Tuesday, Dec 02 2008
Last Sunday, Venus and Jupiter were in conjunction. That means they were near each other and aligned north-to-south on the sky’s dome.
But these blazing beauties will appear almost as close together this evening. Be sure to catch them to the lower right of the waxing crescent moon at early evening, because Venus and Jupiter will set about 3 hours after sunset.
Venus and Jupiter aren’t really near one another at all, of course, but only happen to reside along the same line of sight now as seen from Earth. Jupiter lies almost 6 times farther away than Venus does. Venus, the 2nd planet outward from the sun, circles the sun inside of Earth’s orbit. Jupiter, the 5th planet outward from the sun, circles the sun outside of Earth’s orbit. If you find that tough to visualize when you gaze at these planets in the evening twilight, don’t worry. You’re not alone!
Now for some astronomical nomenclature. Mercury and Venus lie inside of the Earth’s orbit, so they’re referred to as inferior planets. The planets Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune reside outside of Earth’s orbit and are called superior planets. Yet, the term inferior planet is not synonymous with inner planet. Nor is superior planet synonymous with outer planet.
The inner planets – Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars – are the 4 rocky worlds that reside in between the sun and the asteroid belt. The 4 outer planets beyond the asteroid belt are the much larger gas giant worlds Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
This was truly a beautiful sight! I thank God for giving us so much to behold.
02/12/08 bein able to see Moon Venus Jupiter. How often does this happen?
dear frnds….
am frm qatar,,, last night (01-12-08)after de sun set… That was soooooooooooooooooooo beautiful to see when me and my wife saw this memorable moment… this wil happen once in 247yrs
Its was just to beautiful …looked like a smiling face…..how often dos it happen…my 7 year son was so excited saying they were the shooting stars
Its was just to beautiful …looked like a smiling face…..how often dos it happen…my 7 year son was so excited saying they were the shooting stars
Great sight.God is wonderful.
I am so grateful for people like yourselves making this data available to the world. Just 150 years ago we as humans did not have the means to know much let alone our place in the universe. Venus and Jupiter used to be ACTUAL GODS. People actually feared and listened to these objects. Now we admire their visual beauty. I hope that one day you guys have the human resources to publish the actual numbers related to visible events. Such as why there is an eclipse and how far is each object from each other. So normal humble average intelligent people begin to realize the difference between superstition and actuality.
Most people lack an accurate sense of reference. Without it, people literally loose their sense of reference all together and begin a phase of an exaggerated sense of self importance.
Marilyn thanked god for her ability to enjoy Jupiter and Venus.
With an accurate approximation of sense of reference she would’ve been thanking star dust for enabling life to start on this planet instead and thus enjoying Venus and Jupiter.
Due to cloud and rain here in Chelmsford, Essex (and I suspect in much of the south-east) I last saw the evening sky on Monday, 24th November, when Venus was still well to the west of Jupiter, so have missed all the recent excitement. Hoping for clearer skies tonight, but forecast mediocre.
Due to cloud and rain here in Chelmsford, Essex (and I suspect in much of the south-east) I last saw the evening sky on Monday, 24th November, when Venus was still well to the west of Jupiter, so have missed all the recent excitement. Hoping for clearer skies tonight, but forecast mediocre.
It was truly a magnificent sight! Venus looked so much larger than Jupiter. What are their relative distances to Earth at this time?
An article on Happiness in the current issue of The Week magazine credits “recognizing the beauty of nature” as a key contributor. A partial cure for the Recession blues? Walk outside at sunset and look southwest!! Spectacular.
I watch the heavens every night..Last night was really cool…yes, thank the gods!!!!
I watch the heavens every night..Last night was really cool…yes, thank the gods!!!!
The most powerful smile is upside down today! … lol … I will never forget the image my eyes set upon on the 1st of December, 2008. Thanks for posting these images.
how can u tell which is jupiter or venus? the size?
MR MCCLURE, THANK YOU FOR LETTING US KNOW WHAT GLORIOUS CELESTIAL EVENT ‘HUNG’ IN SPACE LAST NIGHT! I HAVE EARMARKED YOUR SITE AS ONE OF MY FAVORITES…NEVER AGAIN WILL I WONDER AND SAY, “HEY, WHAT IS THAT STAR/PLANET UP THERE?”…NOW I HAVE YOU GUYS TO HELP ME CONTEMPLATE HIS VERY NATURE OF CREATING!!!
MR MCCLURE, THANK YOU FOR LETTING US KNOW WHAT GLORIOUS CELESTIAL EVENT ‘HUNG’ IN SPACE LAST NIGHT! I HAVE EARMARKED YOUR SITE AS ONE OF MY FAVORITES…NEVER AGAIN WILL I WONDER AND SAY, “HEY, WHAT IS THAT STAR/PLANET UP THERE?”…NOW I HAVE YOU GUYS TO HELP ME CONTEMPLATE HIS VERY NATURE OF CREATING!!!
Pikapi,
As seen from Earth, Venus is easily the brighter of these two planets. But if you were to look at these planets through a telescope (in early December, 2008), you’d see that Venus’ apparent diameter is only about half as large as Jupiter’s apparent diameter. The intensity of sunlight hitting Jupiter is only about 1/50th of that hitting Jupiter – hence, Venus is the brighter planet.
Tony,
The relative distances to these two planets from Earth as of December 2, 2008: Venus is about the same distance as the sun, whereas Jupiter is a bit more than 5.8 times the Earth-sun distance.
Bruce
it was so beautiful
last night was just so beautiful and amazing I dont know quite what I was seeing at the time, but about 5ish I saw this orange ball come from knowhere, I was looking up with my daughter and husband in the garden and it just come from the sky, and was like an orange ball of light and just was gliding and it was so close, then it just carried on gliding and became lighter as it went on its travel, I didnt know about the planets being so close to earth, until today but I couldnt work out what it was never seen anything like it in my lifetime, and I love astronomy, which puts me to shame not knowing about this, was I seeing a planet orbiting the earth, because it wasnt a plane or a helicopter with its lights on, as in gosport hampshire we see that alot, it literally just gliding past us.
Yes i saw this one last night. It was very nice, i nver see this one before. Today i tell my calss about it and they laugh at me.
Yes i saw this one last night. It was very nice, i nver see this one before. Today i tell my calss about it and they laugh at me.
Yes i saw this one last night. It was very nice, i nver see this one before. Today i tell my calss about it and they laugh at me.
Hiya,
First time I’ve seen planets, and I’m 38. Better still, got to show them to my 6 year old boy!
Hello everyone, I’m from Madrid, Spain, and I am seeing these two beauties right now. They’re about to set. Specially Jupiter, which looks spectacular, I can even see the moons. Venus looks great as well. They are so bright!
it was a really cool thing to see lastnight. however we had the a sad face as it went across our state. but it was still really cool!
My girlfriend Karen has introduced me to this and we’re planning on watching tonight. I’m excited to see the planets, not to mention spending some quality time with the one who puts the stars in my eyes. I’m a lucky man.
Jerry said that Marilyn was wrong by thanking God for the view. With logic you’d realize that God obviously caused things like the Big Bang to create all of the universe. I doubt that this wonderful universe and human life could have come to be without an intelligent designer. The odds of our solar system being formed just the way it is (with just the right distance from the sun, tilt of Earth’s axisthat our planet can support life) is 1-in-10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. I believe what scientist say about stars and stuff, but I sincerely thank God for creating the stars the way he did and the beauty of the night sky. Albert Einstein was one of the most famous scientist and even HE believed in an intelligent designer, God.
I was in awe at the sight of these two planets hanging out with the crescent moon. We were very fortunate to see this amazing sight in Southern California as much of the area was a blanket of fog. In Long Beach we had a clear sky with only the moon, Venus and Jupiter up there. I am hoping the fog lifts some tonight so we can again view this sight.
Heard on the news, next time this will occur will be in 2052.
Heard on the news that this allignment will not occur again until 2052.
When is it? It’s 5:00 PM 12-2-08 and I dont see anything. can anyone send me pictures? I live in NJ USA
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Wow! My Second Graders are going to love this!!!
Hi 2C from WCL, NJ!!!
We are learning about space in class, so this was a real treat!! :)
It was awesome but here in NJ USA it looked more like a frown, rather than a smile.
It was awesome but here in NJ USA it looked more like a frown, rather than a smile.
What a beautiful sight. I just came back in. It follows the above description to a “t” here in Maine. We actually saw a shooting star as well.
From Mount Vernon, New York: Last night me and my son saw the crescent moon and these two “shining stars” adorning the sky… that’s what I thought till today when I saw the news and found out that was “Venus and Jupiter”. Now, what are the chances of seeing two planets in the New York sky? I am super bless that God gave us that chance!
From Mount Vernon, New York: Last night me and my son saw the crescent moon and these two “shining stars” adorning the sky… that’s what I thought till today when I saw the news and found out that was “Venus and Jupiter”. Now, what are the chances of seeing two planets in the New York sky? I am super bless that God gave us that chance!
I first heard about the Venus/Jupiter event on TVs ‘Star Gaze’ I’ve told all of our grandchildren about it. I love knowing about events in our sky. I’m forwarding this site to our grandchildren. Thank you.
Hello moon and planet watchers, We just extracted the telescope to see the moons around Jupiter. Last summer off the coast of Ireland on Inishbofin we had a beautiful view of 3 moons of Jupiter, Tonight we look for the fourth..are there four?…here in Nashville, Tennessee tonight the air is crisp and clear and the “light-trio” is blazing away.
Hello moon and planet watchers, We just extracted the telescope to see the moons around Jupiter. Last summer off the coast of Ireland on Inishbofin we had a beautiful view of 3 moons of Jupiter, Tonight we look for the fourth..are there four?…here in Nashville, Tennessee tonight the air is crisp and clear and the “light-trio” is blazing away.
Hello moon and planet watchers, We just extracted the telescope to see the moons around Jupiter. Last summer off the coast of Ireland on Inishbofin we had a beautiful view of 3 moons of Jupiter, Tonight we look for the fourth..are there four?…here in Nashville, Tennessee tonight the air is crisp and clear and the “light-trio” is blazing away.
I saw this as I was driving and couldn’t keep my eyes off of it! Simply beautiful!
My mom called me to see the Crescent moon, Jupiter, and Venus tonight. It is simply Magnificent to see!
I was at work in Winnetka,Illinois and a customer told me about the sight to behold. I went out and saw the amazing crescent moon with venus & jupiter to the bottom right. It is truly awe inspiring. How rare is this actually? I would love to know…
I saw the planets tonight just like they look in this picture. It is something to see!
Micheailin
WOW!!! hey who wants to know the most AMAZING thing ever to be seen yeah that’s right i said ever look outside around 5:00 to about 6:30 pm of course wherever you are you can see it from the south AMAZING right………………???????
Just think if you have ever learned about stars than you obviously know that the sun is a star and that stars die out…. well here’s a little info from my HONORS science teacher and History teacher since the sun is a star it will eventually die out and we wont have a sun or solar power energy or the moon in that fact because the moon may be pretty bright but that’s because of the suns light reflecting on the moon!!! which gives us our light which we wont have once that star, the sun, dies out!! Plus there’s a meteorite that’s suppose to hit earth in 2013 on April???, something, But we really don’t know and if it does hit us than we really wont know because, if not all of us, most of us will be dead!!:(:(:(:(
Well just thought you’d like some latest news on earth/life…
any Q’s just feel free to ask on your comments
peace, cassy
thank you for explaining what I am seeing out my front door…i knew it was important but nobody seems to care – no news in the daily newspaper and i struggled to find this info on line…pls put me on your email list for special events!! what a beautiful site…i guessed it was Venus and Jupiter before i found the truth…i am a cancer “moonchild” always watching the moon…..how does this event affect us astrologically??? THX for your website
WOW! What a beautifull sight!Would you please say how often this happens,when it will happen again,what it is called, and how it works.
Thanks!WOW! What a beautifull sight!Would you please say how often this happens,when it will happen again,what it is called, and how it works.
Thanks!WOW! What a beautifull sight!Would you please say how often this happens,when it will happen again,what it is called, and how it works.
Thanks!Driving home from a late dentist apointment last night I saw this. It seemed truly magical, like it meant ‘something’. ;) My daughter even noticed it without me saying a word. (naturally observative, curious, and undistracted children amaze me) I thought…‘it IS amazing how most people take things like this for granted and do not even wonder what is going on in the sky.’ I thought it was beautiful. I’m glad I got to see it. I’m glad I left room in my life to notice it!
Awesome sight. Perfect visual for a quiet peaceful evening.
what a spectacluar site. I wonder how many people enjoyed this I’ve been watching for about a week and it is truly beautiful
what a spectacluar site. I wonder how many people enjoyed this I’ve been watching for about a week and it is truly beautiful
I love looking at the sky.It is so beautiful.I hope i will see something like that again!
I love looking at the sky.It is so beautiful.I hope i will see something like that again!
I love looking at the sky.It is so beautiful.I hope i will see something like that again!
I love looking at the sky.It is so beautiful.I hope i will see something like that again!
Hi everyone.
Conjunctions between Venus and Jupiter happen roughly one a year. As far as I can tell, the next decent grouping of the moon, Venus and Jupiter in the evening sky will be on March 25, 2012. However, it won’t be as closely-knit as this year’s production.
I read a news report saying a comparably close and visible gathering of the moon, Venus and Jupiter won’t come again until November 18, 2052. That showing will be in the morning sky.
Bruce
Excellent information for those of us who know nothing; thanks so much for excellent graphics and good descriptions…!!!
Excellent information for those of us who know nothing; thanks so much for wonderful graphics and good descriptions…!!!
We live in Knoxville, TN, and it was great to have clear sky tonight and be able to share this sight with my son.
12/2/08 I can’t belive the image they r showing, and that they r so far apart in space but from earth they only look a couple feet apart. This won’t happen again till 2015 so get your family and your cameras outside to see this amazing sight. I am so happy i heard about it from my teacher. It is so beautiful what god has created for us. Just imangine looking from space. What a sight!!!!!!
I saw this beautiful sight on a clear night in Louisiana. It is pleasing to read other comments crediting God with the creation of all we have.
12/02/2008
so excited told my great nephew 6 and niece 4 printed up the first page for them as i believe that is what they could understand God Bless all and thank you for this information.
don’t know if you will get this as I am having touble setting up my e-mail.
I saw this beautiful sight on a clear night in Louisiana. It is pleasing to read other comments crediting God with the creation of all we have.
12/02/2008
The sky was so pretty venus was so bright and jupiter was not as bright as venus but, it was bright. the sky around it was pretty too.
Hello out there!! I live in newburgh ny.. I’m sorry I missed it last night, but i heard it was beautiful. Tonight I looked up at the sky and what a breath taking view it was!! It’s just incredible what God has created!! I am just starting to do this somewhat as a hobbie. Where do I start and what do you recommend. I thought of buying a telescope.. any suggestions??
Was wondering what these two bright bodies were as I drove to work at night in New Orleans. They’re gorgeous!
i thought it was so beutiful to see the wonderful sight from my house and inside of it my mom thought they were just stars but my aunt thought they were actually planets like the moon,venus,and jupiter i made up a song about them but i guess this is so wonderfull i will never forget this awsome day in my whole entire life.i learned it at my elementary school but i am in 5th grade and i love science and our galaxy. when i was in 3rd grade i wrote an awsome report about the planet neptune.SINCE THEN I LOVE ALL THE PLANETS IN SPACE.:)
i thought it was so beutiful to see the wonderful sight from my house and inside of it my mom thought they were just stars but my aunt thought they were actually planets like the moon,venus,and jupiter i made up a song about them but i guess this is so wonderfull i will never forget this awsome day in my whole entire life.i learned it at my elementary school but i am in 5th grade and i love science and our galaxy. when i was in 3rd grade i wrote an awsome report about the planet neptune.SINCE THEN I LOVE ALL THE PLANETS IN SPACE.:)
One word. OUTSTANDING! from Huntsville,Alabama
This was beautiful, like the one who told me to look for it. She was watching it tonight too. Yes, it does look like us…close, but still very far apart. To far.
This was beautiful, like the one who told me to look for it. She was watching it tonight too. Yes, it does look like us…close, but still very far apart. Too far.
IT LOOKED LIKED A SMILEY FACE,WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT!
The 2 beautiful planets, Venus & Jupiter are such a wonder to behold!! God surely made a beautiful and wonderful universe for all of to behold!!!!
It was truely Beautiful!!!! San Antonio Texas….
I got off work late Monday night and just happened to look up at the moon, and WOW!! I’m so glad I did or I would have missed it. I was so fascinated at what I saw. God is indeed a genius! I wish Carl Sagan was still with us to share his input on the event.
Thank you for your great web site. Keep up the good work!
Love the pict. Didn’t have much time to read it, but just the picture explained a lot. Been searching for hours for something like this, just wish i had come here first. Exactly what i was looking for. Thanks so much. Can’t wait to explore here later. and thanks to Ask.com. -Arya
Love the pict. Didn’t have much time to read it, but just the picture explained a lot. Been searching for hours for something like this, just wish i had come here first. Exactly what i was looking for. Thanks so much. Can’t wait to explore here later. and thanks to Ask.com. -Arya
this was the best sky scene i ever watched!! i knew those were venus and jupiter two days after and luckly some one emailed the picture to me, you can see this clearly on the Google sky map as well, there are other planets will pass by the same area in Jan and Feb, just run the time line of google sky and you will see spectacular planets show !!
AWSOME!!!!!What a spactacular moment in time. Actually got a few pictures taken before my camera got too cold out here in Baltimore. We are all just dust in the wind. We are all children of our Mother Earth and we are all given life by our creator the Sun/GOD. How about them apples!!!!!!
I saw the moon, venus & jupiter just like in the picture. So beautiful! I just got an e-mail from a friend in Asia that over there and in Australia, they see “smiley” from the alignment (not in the US and Europe). How neat!
I saw the moon, venus & jupiter just like in the picture. So beautiful! I just got an e-mail from a friend in Asia that over there and in Australia, they see “smiley” from the alignment (not in the US and Europe). How neat!
Hi there
Im from manila philippines and we have a perfect scene for that.
the jupiter and the venus was located above the moon so it looks like a perfect smile :).
It was such a great experience seeing that scene.
I have observed it for one hour from Jamshedpur just after sun set. Immediately I informed all my closest. It was wonderful. Thanks to God for this beautiful creation.
To be able to see such greatness was so wonderful and to share it with my Grandchildren, the experience was exciting.
DEAR PEOPLE,
WE MUST PRAISE GOD JEHOVA FOR GIVING US A VERY WONDERFUL UNIVERS.
LAST NIGHT I’D WATCHING NEWS IN TV WITH MY FAMILY,I SAW THREE BRIGHT OBJECT IN THE SKY, AND SUDDENLY I GO OUTSIDE,VERY AMAZING THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I SAW WODERFUL THING IN MY LIFE.SO I THANKFULL GOD.
from Nigeria, I’ve been watching the stars for more than a week now. I new immediately that they were unique. Just found out from earth/sky website that the lights are actually venus and jupiter. I thank God that I have seen something so rare and extraordiant in my lifetime. I’m sure there is a deeper significance to their appearance, perhaps the birth of twins around the world. All the same it is a wonderful sight to behold. thank you