Sky Show With Venus-Jupiter Conjunction Tonight

 

                       Jupiter-Venus conjunction tonight from Colorado Springs

Tonight the two brightest planets in the sky, Venus and Jupiter, appear in close proximity, actually within a lunar diameter in angular measure apart (30'). This is what astronomers call a planetary conjunction, and presented in the top graphic using my Cyberky program set for Colorado Springs. The pair will make a splendid sight about 1 hour after sunset in the southwest sky.  No binoculars needed but a small telescope with a 1 degree or larger field of view provides the best view.

Venus, typically the brightest object in the nighttime sky except for the moon, is often seen just before sunrise or just after sunset. For the past few weeks it has been noticeable in the western sky at twilight, slightly higher each night and appearing to move closer and closer to Jupiter, the third-brightest nighttime object apart from the Moon.

Of course, while the two planets will appear very close to each other in conjunction, this is really a kind of optical illusion.  They are in fact hundreds of millions of miles apart from each other and only appear close because they are seen together in the line of sight.

In subsequent weeks, Venus will continue to be noticeable, higher and higher in the evening sky, while Jupiter will slowly move lower toward the western horizon.

By June 1st Venus appears 25 degrees above the western horizon an hour after sunset and will be at its historical brightest (magnitude - 4.4), providing an excellent opportunity for observation by naked eye, binoculars or telescope.   

See Also:

Selected Questions- Answers From All Experts Astronomy Forum(Stellar Brightness- Magnitude Scale)