A Spectacular Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter
 
June 30, 2016:  August 2016 is a special month for backyard astronomy. Why? 
Because on almost any evening in August you can take a tour of the solar
system-no telescope required.
 
For most of the month, the five brightest planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars,
Jupiter and Saturn) have been splayed across the evening sky, with the Moon
hopping from one to another and highlighting each one on a different night
while acting as a helpful guide to novice sky watchers.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE1WjvtpIts
 
As August comes to a close, however, no guide is needed.  Something so
eye-catching and beautiful is going to happen, even the least experienced sky
watcher can find it without help.
 
On August 27th, Venus and Jupiter will converge in the sunset sky only about
1/15th of a degree apart.  If you hold a pencil at arm's length, the eraser
would cover both planets at once.  Two bright planets so close together are
practically impossible to miss.  Just make sure you have an unobstructed view
of the western horizon.
 
The converging planets might even look like they're going to touch.  They
won't. Venus is 144 million miles away, while Jupiter is more than 4 times
farther.  To the human eye, however, the distance between the two will appear
breathtakingly small.
 
At closest approach, Venus and Jupiter easily fit within the same binocular or
telescopic field of view.  If you have a small telescope, take a look. Because
Venus is an interior planet, we sometimes see it as a crescent, like the Moon.
But not this time.  On August 27th, Venus will be nearly full. You'll see 93%
of the cloudy disk of Venus, illuminated by the sun.  You'll also see the
ruddy-brown cloud belts of Jupiter and, maybe, the giant planet's largest
moons.  All of this will be visible, all at once, in the circumference of a
single eyepiece.
 
Just remember, though, that a telescope is not required.  Venus and Jupiter
are bright enough to see with the naked eye even from light-polluted urban
areas.  Try to catch them about 30 minutes after sunset, as they will have set
by the time the sky fades to completely black.  The sight of two planets in
conjunction surrounded by twilight blue is an extra-beautiful sight.
August 2016:  If you didn't love astronomy at the beginning of the month, you
will love it by the end.
 
For more news about happenings in the night sky, stay tuned to science.nasa.gov
 
 
Regards,
 
Roger

--- DB 3.99 + W10 (1607)
 * Origin: NCS BBS - Houma, LoUiSiAna (1:3828/7)