Venus and Jupiter set to put on a show tonight

Venus and Jupiter, the two brightest planets in the night sky, will put on a show Wednesday after sunset.

The two planets are separated by hundreds of millions of miles in outer space. But Wednesday, they will look like nextdoor neighbors.

Venus and Jupiter have been gradually moving closer, and their closest approach will occur after sunset. Texans will be able to see the planets in the western sky — if the weather cooperates. The forecast for Houston, San Antonio and Austin called for clouds as of Tuesday morning.

But conjunctions are forgiving, said Rice University astronomer Pat Hartigan.

“If you miss the night of closest approach because it was cloudy, the preceding or following night will not be too much worse,” Hartigan said on his website that provides more information about the conjunction.

And this planetary conjunction will be especially easy to see — even from the center of a big city. Hartigan said the proximity of the planets and high position in the night sky will make it the best evening conjunction until after 2040.

“Evening conjunctions occur right after dark, and so can be shown to children easily as demonstrations of what they might be learning in school,” Hartigan said. “Observing them is a connection to the natural world no matter where you are located.”

Venus and Jupiter typically have one conjunction, where they line up as seen from the Earth, each year. Some are more spectacular than others.

Hartigan said 2015 had a particularly good evening conjunction, and Aug. 12, 2025, will see a nice morning conjunction. Then mark your calendar for 2039 as he said there will be a “crazy good” conjunction in the morning of Nov. 2, 2039.