Night sky action: How and when to view the close conjunction of Venus and Jupiter

Strap yourselves in for another exciting night-sky event this week as Venus and Jupiter come together in a rare conjunction.

What is a conjunction?

In astronomy, a conjunction happens when two or more celestial objects appear very close together in the sky as seen from Earth.

Venus and Jupiter, the two brightest planets in our solar system, will be less than a degree apart. That’s about the width of your pinkie finger held at arm’s length. The planets will be so close, they’ll look like a bright double star.

When can you see the Venus and Jupiter conjunction?

This spectacular event will happen in the early hours of Tuesday, August 12, across the United States.

Venus will pass just 0.9º south of Jupiter at 4 a.m. ET, with experts believing this will be the best time to catch the conjunction, no matter where you are in the country.

Both planets will rise together around 3 a.m. local time and set at about 6 a.m., though exact times may vary depending on your location.

Where’s the best place to watch?

If the sky is clear, Venus and Jupiter are easy to spot thanks to their brightness. According to Live Science, they’ll rise in the east about 20 degrees above the horizon, which is fairly low.

To get the best view, find a flat, open area with no obstructions to the east.

While you can see the conjunction with the naked eye, using a backyard telescope or binoculars will make the experience even better. With the right equipment, you might even spot Jupiter’s Great Red Spot and cloud bands.

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