Look Outside Your Windows - Venus & Jupiter

[theafricandream]

I was out about an hour ago and noticed the crescent moon and a really bright star next to it, but didn't give it much thought beyond that. As I crossed the street, some dude says to me "you see the planet Venus?" I thought dude was bugging at first but then I put two and two together. It's quite dope actually, I snapped a couple of pics. You can see Venus really bright next to the moon and can see Jupiter in the background, it looks like a gold color. Random I know, but just thought I should share, ya should check it out.
from my window

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/...ence-space/#.T3EKKRzMW1Z

I tried to embed the article, somebody help out.

 

[HEATHEN]

The bright planets Venus and Jupiter will perform one last sky show with the crescent moon Monday night to wrap up a two-day celestial meet-up.

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At sunset, Venus, Jupiter and the moon will appear together in the western sky in what astronomers call a conjunction. For observers with clear skies, the crescent moon will appear at the top of the trio like a giant smile in space, with Venus shining bright to the lower right and Jupiter perched below.

"This will be the best Venus-Jupiter conjunction for years to come," NASA officials wrote in a skywatching alert. "While bright to the unaided eye, they're even better when seen through a telescope – and you can share NASA's view."

On Sunday night (March 25), which marked the first night of the conjunction, NASA hosted a webchat and live telescope views of Venus, Jupiter and the moon. The space agency has archived the video via the Marshall Space Flight Center's Ustream account so latecomers can relive the experience.

"What an amazing show the universe give us!!!" skywatcher Sandy Caldarazzo of Dundalk, Md., told Space.com in an email. "I have been watching these two planets hanging out all month." 

The sky map of Venus, Jupiter and the moon associated with this guide shows where to look tonight in the western sky to see the celestial sight at sunset.

While the moon, Venus and Jupiter appear close to each other in the night sky, they are actually extremely far apart.




For example, the moon is about 238,000 miles (382,900 kilometers) from Earth and appears to move quickly across the night sky. Venus and Jupiter, however, are more distant and appear to move more slowly over time. [Amazing Photos: Venus and Jupiter in March ]

Currently, Venus is about 67 million miles (108 million km) from Earth and Jupiter is about 535 million miles (861 million km) away. Jupiter, in particular, has had a months-long run as a fantastic skywatching target, but that will soon change.

NASA/JPL/Jane Jone
This NASA sky map shows the positions of Venus, Jupiter and the moon on Monday night during a potentially spectacular conjunction of the three objects.

Over the next few weeks, Jupiter's appearance will slowly be lost in the glare of the setting sun.

By mid-April, the gas giant will be setting at the end of evening twilight (about 1.5 hours after sunset), then becoming harder to see as it sinks lower into the sunset. After April 24, Jupiter will disappear from the night sky until late June, when it will return in the dawn sky.

The planet Venus, meanwhile, will continue to grow brighter in the weeks ahead.

Currently, Venus is shining at its highest point above the horizon for 2012. It is visible long into the night and sets about four hours after sunset. On Tuesday, Venus will reach its easternmost point in the sky (relative to the sun) and will begin to dip back down toward the horizon.

Roberto Port
Skywatcher Roberto Porto took this shot in Teide national park, Tenerife, Spain, on Monday.

If you have a telescope, Venus takes on a more surprising look: It appears as a bright silver-white "half moon" currently and will slowly transform into a thick crescent as its orbit brings it closer to Earth. This is because Venus, like the moon, has phases as it orbits the sun.

Venus and Jupiter are not the only planets offering dazzling views this week. The planet Mars is also visible in the eastern sky as a bright reddish-orange orb in the evening sky.

If you snap an amazing photo of Venus and Jupiter, or any other skywatching target, and would like to share it for a possible story or image gallery, please contact Space.com Managing Editor Tariq Malik at [email protected].

 

[jayvee1220]

i noticed that last night. it's really awesome to see.

 

[yngsimba.sneakershoebox]

X

 

[joe billionaire]

gonna check right now

just seen it 

 

[dimelo]

Thanks OP

 

[albooboo5]

Damn I missed it. I can see Venus but no Jupiter. This Is the last day to see both correct?

 

[goofy]

Thanks for sharing, will be watching for it now.

 

[damnitzdom]

i can see uranus

 

[jordanscrub]

Just saw it...wow...

 

[maxswoosh713]

Originally Posted by damnitzdom

i can see uranus

 

[ecruteakcityboy]

Didn't notice anything but something bright near the moon.

 

[livemyreality]

Too bad it's cloudy here in NorCal. =(

 

[rko2004]

Yeah I've been seeing these or another planet for about a month or two now. Pretty cool. I thought they were stars but they were to close and the hue around them were different. Its nice to just look at the stars sometimes. Its also nice to know you guys are looking at the same thing I am.

I love you guys.

 

[mcraptor]

My boys and I were 

yesterday and someone noticed it, thought we were all tripping out 

 

[eff ecks]

i by far missed this. guess i'll wait another 100 years

 

[balloonoboy]

2Q12

 

[youngcfromthad]

Seen it and didn't know exactly what it was. Just walked back outside and seen it. Bright as Hell

 

[iamdavidrice]

Just went outside to see it, think I missed it...saw a shooting star tho

 

[taymane23]

I just went outside and saw a bright orange/red star qnd I saw the moon venus and jupiter earlier tonight. I thought I was lookin at mercury and jupiter

 

[cap1229]

Saw it earlier tonight. Beautiful.

 

[rexanglorum]

Venus and Jupiter have been dominating the night sky but tonight they were like two huge pearls, along with the sharp crescent Moon.

I still prefer September of 2007 when Mars was very close to Earth.

Sadly, cameras are terrible at capturing every worthwhile lunar, solar or cosmic event in the sky.

 

[tim teufel]

Have been seeing them for a month or so. Venus shining bRight as hell lately

 

[teamjordan79]

mars is visible too although its like 75 degrees to the left of the moon/venus/jupiter for me. Those sky map apps really help