Astronomy - Venus and Jupiter (with pictures)

[jayfromcleveland]

Appended is some info about the upcoming conjunction with Venus, Jupiter and the Moon, from the Classical Astronomy Update newsletter.

 

If you have clear skies this weekend, you owe it to yourself and your family to take a minute in the evening twilight to look (WARNING! CHRISTIAN CONTENT!!!) -j

 

 

As reported in the previous Update, the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter have been drawing closer in the evening sky throughout the month of November, 2008. The last week of November is the "main event," as these celestial bodies noticably change their positions with each passing night.

As mentioned in previous Updates, Venus and Jupiter are the brightest "stars" in the sky, and actually the brightest celestial objects after the Sun and Moon. Jupiter and Venus come close together every year or so, and the Moon passes each of these every month. However, it is relatively rare to see all three objects so close together, especially in the evening sky. All we need is clear skies and we're all set!

If you look up on Thanksgiving evening, Thursday, November 27, you will see Jupiter above and to the left of Venus, at the "11 o'clock" position from the bright evening star. By three days later, on the evening of Sunday, November 30, Venus will have swung under Jupiter, so that the latter planet is now at the "two o'clock" position from Venus. On that evening, the waxing crescent Moon will enter the scene, below and to the right of this bright pair.

The last month of 2008 will begin on the evening of Monday, December 1 with the closest approach of Venus and Jupiter, joined by the closest passing of the four-day-old waxing crescent Moon. This will be a unique opportunity to see the LORD's celestial clockwork in action, so be sure to look outside to the southwest in evening twilight after sunset.

Pray for clear skies if you live in the Great White North as we do! But if you live in a warm, clear sky location, you really should make it a point to take a couple minutes out of your evening to observe this event.

Keep an eye on these objects throughout the first week of December. The Moon will wax away from the evening planets, heading east as it grows thicker in phase. Venus will pass to the left of Jupiter, moving higher in the southwest sky as Jupiter moves lower.

To understand this event from a "God's eye view," the Earth is currently swinging around the Sun away from Jupiter, and so this planet is moving behind the Sun as seen from the Earth. Throughout December, Jupiter will inch toward the sunset a little bit each night, finally disappearing into the Sun's bright afterglow. On January 24, 2009, Jupiter will invisibly pass the opposite point from the Earth in its superior conjunction with the Sun.

Meanwhile, swift Venus is emerging farther and farther from the sunset and climbing higher and higher in the evening sky. Venus will reach its maximum eastern elongation on January 14, 2009, when its apparent distance from the Sun is greatest. After that, Venus will draw again toward the Sun as it overtakes the Earth in its orbit.

For the time being, on Monday, December 1, Jupiter and Venus will "pass each other on the way" as they fall along the same line of sight as seen from the surface of the Earth.

Folks, again, this is an excellent opportunity to observe the clockwork of the heavens in action. Make it a point to notice Jupiter and Venus in the next couple weeks as clear skies permit. Tell your friends, family, and neighbors and share this info with your homeschool support group. People are always amazed to see the planets and this is a rare show that you won't want to miss!

[newbie]

Thanks for the post, we had a great view last night, now just waiting for the crescent moon.

[Rhonda@LivingWater]

I've been meaning to look up the current "sky action". My son loves to keep up with what is going on in the night sky and your post is very appreciated!

[TraceyS/FL]

Thanks for posting this - DD was trying to figure out what was going on last night!

[newbie]

Btw, gotta another view tonite. It is fascinating.

[jayfromcleveland]

Thanks ladies, hope everyone has some clear skies. -j

[Karenciavo]

We've been following them since Wednesday. Thank you for posting.

[readwithem]

Thanks for this!! We saw them last night!! So lovely :)

Edited December 2, 2008 by readwithem

[Halftime Hope]

I just happened outside at about 6 pm to watch my dd til she drove safely away. I meant to go in the house and get the rest of the family, but I forgot!! (We had just served dinner...)

 

It was *gorgeous* -- I hope its still reasonably close tonight!

 

boo, hoo!

[keptwoman]

I have a picture in my blog that I took last night. I was hoping to get some tonight but it is overcast.

[Rhonda in TX]

I always forget about things like this, but we happened to be out driving around at just the right time. The sky was clear and the moon and planets were so bright. We were all just thrilled to see it.

[Lisa at Home]

Last night we had crystal clear skies, and the scenario looked like that brief second when a firework explodes and the "bits" (I don't know what you call them) are about to start falling.

 

It was hard to come in from the cold!

 

~Lisa