Starting at the end of April, look for Jupiter and Venus in the sky. And it is that we will end the month as we began it: with a spectacular planetary conjunction . It is lucky for those of us who like to observe the sky, since Venus and Jupiter are usually the two brightest planets in the sky, so they will give us a fabulous show being in such a close conjunction.
A conjunction takes place when two planets appear to ‘touch’ each other in the sky from Earth’s point of view, according to NASA. The last time the two planets were closer than this year’s conjunction was in August 2016, though it was harder to see since they were closer to the sun.
How to find them?
All week you will be able to see the planets getting closer, and then the next week you will see them moving away from each other. In the northern hemisphere, it is where we can best appreciate it. Here, viewers must look along the southeastern horizon just as dawn breaks, but while it’s still dark enough to see a few stars. In areas like London (United Kingdom), it will be almost impossible to see it. The further west you are, the closer the planets appear to be.
In the southern hemisphere, observers will also be able to see the conjunction under the same conditions, except that Venus and Jupiter will appear above the eastern horizon.
The Moon will not be an obstacle
In the nights before the conjunction, the Moon will slowly become less visible as it becomes a new moon on April 30, according to the US space agency. Then, in the early morning hours of April 30 and May 1 , take the opportunity to contemplate this astronomical spectacle. That yes, as long as the sky is clear, since inclement weather would block the view of the conjunction.
The Venus-Jupiter conjunction occurs about once a year, but this year the two planets will appear significantly closer than they usually are.
Reference: NASA
