(Jake Turcotte)
Jupiter’s leaving - but Venus and the moon will meet again soon!
By Peter N. Spotts | 12.02.08
Judging from your comments, last evening’s (for those of us in the Eastern US) conjunction between the moon, Venus, and Jupiter, drew appreciative reviews from Minnesota to Uganda and points in between.
We here got the frown; folks in Asia got the smiley face. And viewers in Western Europe were treated to an occultation when the moon slid in front of Venus for a bit.
Tonight, the view was markedly different. During my pre-supper walk with pooch around 6 p.m., a thin layer of clouds obscured Jupiter and only grudgingly let light pass through from the moon and Venus — all three now heading their separate ways.
But in a quick email exchange, Alan MacRobert, a senior editor at Sky and Telescope magazine up the road in Cambridge, Mass., mentioned to me that on New Year’s Eve we can look forward to a conjunction of the moon and Venus.
If you’re inclined to watch it, put a bid in for a pair of binoculars as a holiday gift, if you don’t have a pair already. The moon-Venus conjunction will fall well within a binoculars’ field of view, just as last night’s cosmic liaison did. And they could keep you coming back for more.
Depending on how dark your local skies are, binoculars can introduce you to star clusters, the Andromeda Galaxy, and a host of other fascinating objects.
For more on binocular astronomy, try here or here. May your skies be dark, clear and your cocoa hot!
<< Tonight, for one show only … it’s Jupiter, Venus, and the moon! | MainComments
2. andreina | 12.02.08
damn yo I saw thaat with my brother it was mad cute I just loved it well we loved it
3. Ian Schenk | 12.02.08
Wall Street is in no mood for a smile anyway, for sure. Perhaps in 2052, when the next even occurs, heavens will smile on Wall Street once again.
4. Matilda | 12.03.08
On Monday here in Zambia Lusaka, the moon was in between two stars. Can that have a meaning? it looked so nice and strange to some of us.
Regards
5. HELEN | 12.03.08
IT WAS AWESOIME, WE GOT A FULL VIEW HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES. IT’S ONCE IN A LIFETIME. I’M PROUD I WAS ABLE TO VIEW IT PERSONALY.
6. dreamz | 12.03.08
Ya, I saw it from San Pedro, Philippines and it was AWESOME!!! Initially, we thought it was just 2 satellites and already thought it was cool.. Now, knowing that it’s Venus and Jupiter, it makes the experience even more memorable!!!
7. Teresa | 12.03.08
I live in Phillips, Nebraska and could see the 2 perfectly. It makes me want to invest in a telescope!
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1. Rosie | 12.02.08
this was an awesome day….i will never for get it.!!