Venus And Jupiter Together
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2014 12:15 pm
If you're an early riser, you've doubtless noticed Venus in the ENE before sunrise, appearing to be a very bright "star" rising an hour or so before the sun lately. Last week another bright "star" became visible below Venus, and climbing a bit nearer each day. That is actually Jupiter. They will be at their closest before sunrise on Monday, August 18:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronom ... -08132014/
A low power view through binoculars might, and through a small telescope will, reveal the four moons of Jupiter in the same view as the two planets. If you're in Europe the planets will be even closer together.
You can read the rest here:Close Venus-Jupiter Conjunction on August 18th
By: Bob King | August 13, 2014
Here's your invitation to a spectacular close conjunction of the sky's two brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, next Monday morning. Planets pair up plenty often in the sky, but rarely do they dance this closely. During Venus and Jupiter's close conjunction shortly before dawn on Monday, August 18th, they'll be separated by only 1⁄3° or less. It's the very best planet-planet meetup of 2014 — in fact, these two worlds haven't paired so closely since 2000.
And it all happens right next door to Messier 44, the Beehive Cluster, in the constellation Cancer the Crab.
The two planets' tight dance will be brief. Venus is headed toward the eastern horizon and solar conjunction, while Jupiter only recently escaped the glare of the sun. With every morning, Jupiter rises a little higher in the east and Venus a little lower. As the two planets trot off in different directions, we'll see them slowly approach and separate.
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronom ... -08132014/
A low power view through binoculars might, and through a small telescope will, reveal the four moons of Jupiter in the same view as the two planets. If you're in Europe the planets will be even closer together.