Space

1st February: See Venus and Jupiter Together!

Venus-Jupiter conjunction starts today

By Gabriel Gache, Science News Editor

25th of January 2008, 10:33 GMT

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Image of Venus-Jupiter conjunction during 2004

For those of you who are looking for unique images on the night sky, since tonight you can see how the closest planet to Earth, Venus, and the largest planet in the solar system, the gas giant Jupiter,

slowly draw together to create some of the brightest systems visible this year. Don't worry though, the two are in no immediate danger to collide with each other since they are separated by about four astronomical units of space. An astronomical unit represents the average distance between the Sun and the Earth.

Venus is the brightest planet in the solar system, as seen from the Earth. Since January 25 the bright 'star' will be accompanied by a 'small' companion on the sky. The event will culminate on February 1st, when the two planets will appear to be extremely close to each other. In fact, from our Earthly perspective, the distance between the two will be smaller than the apparent size of the Moon on the night sky.

Although it is the biggest planet in the solar system, the massive distance between the two would actually render Venus to appear slightly brighter than Jupiter. You can easily see the phenomenon with the naked eye, or with professional tools. Those of you who posses either low-power telescopes or wide field eye pieces will also have the unique opportunity of viewing four of Jupiter's biggest moons: Ganymede, Io, Europa and Callisto.

As you observe the conjunction of the two planets, Jupiter will appear in the upper left of the system, while Venus on the lower right. With the help of a telescope you will be able to see how Jupiter's disk has an apparent size three times that of Venus, when in fact Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, has a diameter at least twelve times bigger than that of the closest planet to Earth.

The conjunction will be available for observation in the morning or one hour before dawn towards the southeast direction on the sky. After 1st of February the two will slowly move away from each other, as they orbit around the Sun.

TAGS:

Venus | Jupiter | conjunction | orbit | Sun

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