By Jupiter! It’s a close encounter of cosmic kind
STARGAZERS were enjoying a cosmic treat this weekend as two of the solar system’s brightest planets seemed close to colliding in the night sky.
Venus and Jupiter are about 690 million kilometres apart but viewed from Earth they appear to be almost touching in a rare celestial spectacle known as a planetary conjunction.
The phenomenon happens every year as the planets orbit the sun, but this weekend the heavenly bodies appear much closer than usual. The spectacle will not be repeated until 2039.
If there is a clear sky, the naked eye or binoculars will be enough to see the planets just above the horizon in the east. Venus, the brightest of the duo, will appear just 0.2 degrees – less than the diameter of a full moon – south of Jupiter. The planets are most visible just before dawn in the coming weeks as they start to drift slowly apart.
A conjunction is when two planets appear close together, or even touching, in the night sky.
Venus and Jupiter have been slowly appearing to close in on each other in recent days before meeting in their own conjunction. The best time to witness this was at 5am this morning, just before sunrise.
The planets are now so bright that, if the skies are clear, they are plainly visible to the naked eye. Enthusiasts with telescopes can make out features of Jupiter or some of its largest moons. It is also possible to get a rare glimpse of Mars and Saturn in the same patch of sky.
Stargazers are advised to find a high spot or an unrestricted view on a clear night to glimpse the dazzling duo.