Be dazzled by the crystalline light of planet Venus, the Evening Star, moving in relationship to bright planet Jupiter close above the western skyline. Like dancers positioned at a distance from each other and destined to meet, Venus and Jupiter seem pulled ever closer over the course of the coming two weeks, culminating in their closest approach in our skies on March 1. Known as conjunction, the orbs will appear side by side, nearly touching.
Beginning half an hour after sunset and visible for close to an hour and a half, the timing of the event shifts as the Sun sets later. Check the tables, below: Look for the planets circa 6 p.m. to 7:20 p.m. today, February 18, and 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. on March 1. Seek out an unobstructed view to the west to return to each clear evening. Venus appears about 20 degrees above the horizon within half an hour of sunset; Jupiter 10 degrees above Venus. Measure 10 degrees by extending a fist at arm’s length.
Reminiscent of last month’s “EYES TO THE SKY: The romance of celestial conjunctions, planetary and lunar,” a nearly repeat performance occurs in the coming week, with one change in the cast. A wisp of a crescent moon rises below Venus on Tuesday, February 21. Catch it if you can before it sets at 7:25 p.m. Given our hilly terrain, it is best to look by 6:45 p.m. The graceful crescent appears beside Jupiter on February 22, both setting within minutes of 8:40 p.m. See the waxing moon climb above Jupiter on February 23, creating a charmed line-up with Venus that continues into February 24. On February 27, the first quarter (half) moon draws the eye to Mars and the drama of the string of three planets, with moon, along the ecliptic.
Summed up in the diagram, above, we look forward together to the exhilarating progress and climax of the dance of Venus and Jupiter in our skies.
Postscript: In case of inclement weather, Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, Calif. is hosting an online broadcast of the conjunction on March 1 from 9:10 p.m. to 11:10 p.m. EST (6:10 p.m. to 8:10 p.m. PST). The Observatory will stream the conjunction live online, weather permitting.
