View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Marek Nikodem captured this picture on March 1, 2023, from close to Szubin, Poland. Marek wrote: “Venus and Jupiter glitter so clearly, they’re like lovely diamonds within the sky. It’s a tremendous and distinctive view. A bunch of my associates and I ventured away from town to have a pristine view of this uncommon astronomical occasion. We have been mesmerized by this celestial present.” Thanks, Marek!
Shiny planets: Venus and Jupiter conjunction photographs
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Soumyadeep Mukherjee of Dhanbad, India, captured these photographs of Venus and Jupiter heading towards conjunction on March 1-2, 2023, and wrote: “For the final couple of weeks, Venus and Jupiter have stolen the eye of astrophotographers! They have been inching shut to at least one one other, slowly however certainly. I used to be fortunate sufficient to seize their relative motion for the final 10 days. One other attention-grabbing discover for me was the ever altering hue of the sky after sundown! They do add loads to the ultimate picture.” Thanks, Soumyadeep.View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Tina Clothier of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, captured this picture of Venus and Jupiter on March 1, 2023, and wrote: “I had hoped to see the planets shine on the water, simply above the horizon, however the moon was rising, so I settled for this blue hour shot and went residence.” Thanks, Tina.View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Joel Weatherly in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, captured Venus and Jupiter at their closest – solely a few moon-diameter aside – on March 1, 2023. He wrote: “This night the two brightest planets in our skies, Venus and Jupiter, appeared 29.4′ aside. Whereas clouds acquired in the best way, it was nonetheless a surprising pairing. Regardless of planetary element being misplaced to the clouds, 3 of Jupiter’s moons, Io, Ganymede, and Callisto, have been seen.” What a sight! Thanks, Joel!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Sheryl R. Garrison captured this picture from Southern Alberta, Canada, on March 1, 2023. Sheryl wrote: “It was a race in opposition to the clouds, however fortunately they cleared sufficient for me to catch the Jupiter and Venus conjunction shining brightly within the western sky. Thanks EarthSky for conserving us knowledgeable of those attention-grabbing celestial occasions.” Thanks, Sheryl!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Irina Hynes in Riverside, Illinois, captured this picture of the Jupiter and Venus conjunction on March 1, 2023. Thanks, Irina!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Gene Hettel in Calamba, Philippines, captured these photos of the development of the conjunction. Gene wrote: “Jupiter and Venus get nearer collectively over 4 evenings from 27 February to 2 March. Shot from the very same location and roughly the identical time.” Thanks, Gene!
Planet photographs main as much as the conjunction
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Cathy Adams in St. Stephen, Canada, captured this picture on February 27, 2023. Cathy wrote: “Our skies are usually not wanting too promising for this week’s conjunction, however I used to be capable of get a pleasant take a look at Jupiter and Venus tonight :)” Thanks, Cathy!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Sheryl R. Garrison captured this picture from Southern Alberta, Canada, on February 26, 2023. Sheryl wrote: “Early Sunday night the aurora borealis wasn’t the one factor lighting up the night time sky. I caught Venus and Jupiter getting nearer to their conjunction. A stunning night time to have clear skies!” Thanks, Sheryl!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Chuck Reinhart in Vincennes, Indiana, captured this picture on February 25, 2023. Chuck wrote: “Jupiter and Venus after sundown. I’ve loved watching the two planets transfer nearer to one another each day.” Thanks, Chuck!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Roberto Burkle captured this picture on February 24, 2023, from Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Roberto wrote: “A number of days earlier than conjunction.” Thanks, Roberto!
Venus and Jupiter by the moon
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Petr Horálek in Thoddoo, Maldives, captured this picture of February 23, 2023. Petr wrote: “Yet another day, yet another night, yet another romantic second. After 24 hours, the moon moved away from the planetary duo of Jupiter and Venus and created an attractive line with the planets. This time even cirrus clouds appeared and magnified dramatic nightfall colours. I couldn’t resist and took this quite simple portrait of the entire scene over a ship on the shore of Thoddoo Island.” Thanks, Petr!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Ji-Hoon Kim of Seoul, Korea, captured photos of the moon, Venus and Jupiter over 3 evenings and wrote: “From February 21 to 23, 2023, in Seoul, Korea, there was a gathering between the moon and the planets… For those who look carefully on the image, you’ll be able to see the change within the moon’s motion at a look.” Thanks, Ji-Hoon!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | EarthSky’s personal Raúl Cortes in Monterrey, Mexico, captured this picture on February 22, 2023. Raul wrote: “I made a composite out of two photographs. The principle photograph reveals a zoomed-in view of the moon and Jupiter with the Galilean moons. So as from prime to backside, they’re Ganymede, Io, Europa and Callisto. The inset is at sundown exhibiting the moon and the two planets, Jupiter and Venus.” Thanks, Raúl!
Extra of Venus and Jupiter with the moon
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Soumyadeep Mukherjee in Dhanbad, India, captured this picture on February 22, 2023. Soumyadeep wrote: “The moon, Venus and Jupiter coming collectively within the night sky offered a beautiful alternative to picture them on the blue hour.” Thanks, Soumyadeep!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Steve Christle in Orange, California, captured this picture on February 22, 2023, and wrote: “A Southwest flight passes by the moon Venus and Jupiter after sundown this night.” Thanks, Steve!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Riste Spiroski in Skopje, Macedonia, captured this picture on February 21, 2023. Riste wrote: “At this time I used to be amazed by this shut assembly between the planets and the moon. I used to be ready for the proper second to seize it and little did I do know, I captured birds within the body that made a small place for the moon to remain clear, which made the composition even higher.” Thanks, Riste!
The intense planets from mid-February
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Larry Pal in Daytona Seaside, Florida, captured this picture of the crescent moon with Venus and Jupiter on February 21, 2023. Thanks, Larry!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Michael Flynn captured this picture on February 19, 2023, close to Pine Mountain Membership, California. He wrote: “The zodiacal mild over the Pacific … on the prime of the picture is the Pleiades star cluster; on the backside of the picture are the planets Jupiter and Venus setting into the sunshine air pollution and marine layer.” Thanks, Michael!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Lorie Pilster wrote from Marco Island, Florida, to say she’d captured Venus (under) and Jupiter on February 19, 2023. Thanks, Lorie!
Extra from mid-February
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Jean-Baptiste Feldmann – with the assistance of Christine – in Gleizé, France, captured this picture on February 18, 2023, and wrote: “We will simply admire every night the luxurious rapprochement of the planets Jupiter (above) and Venus.” Thanks, Jean-Baptiste!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Kannan A in Singapore captured this picture of Venus and Jupiter on February 16, 2023, and wrote: “Jupiter and Venus shining shiny within the west skies about 45 minutes after sundown. The pair was clearly seen to the unaided eyes and can be nearing conjunction at first of March 2023.” Thanks, Kannan!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Gilbert Gomez in Strasburg, Virginia, captured this picture on February 15, 2023, and wrote: “Picture of Jupiter (above) and Venus, taken with cellphone digicam.” Thanks, Gilbert!
Venus and Jupiter in early February
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Patricio Leon in Cachagua, Chile, captured this picture on February 14, 2023. Discover how Jupiter is above and to the proper of Venus, as seen from Chile? Presently, it’s above and to the left of Venus as seen from our northerly latitudes. As seen from numerous elements of Earth, the ecliptic – or path of the sun, moon and planets – slants otherwise. Patricio wrote: “By the seaside, Venus and Jupiter are seen closing in towards their March 1 conjunction, the current angular separation is about 15 degrees. Fomalhaut takes half within the scene at left of the planets, and Diphda above them.” Thanks, Patricio!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Riste Spiroski captured this picture on February 13, 2023. Riste wrote: “The intense planets Jupiter and Venus setting together with the sun on the oldest lake in Europe, Lake Ohrid in Macedonia.” Thanks, Riste!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Cecille Kennedy in Rocky Creek State Park, Oregon, captured this picture on February 11, 2023. Cecille wrote: “Venus and Jupiter shine very shiny and exquisite within the night sky. Venus is about to set on the ocean horizon and has turned a surreal reddish orange. The glowing mild on the proper is a fishing boat with sodium lights.” Thanks, Cecille!
Extra conjunction photographs from our group
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Lisa Ann Fanning captured this picture of Venus and Jupiter on February 10, 2023. Lisa Ann wrote: “Cape Could, New Jersey, is world well-known for its sunsets, and tonight didn’t disappoint! Because the sundown wrapped up, Jupiter (prime) and Venus (under) began to shine brightly! A good looking second by the seaside!” Thanks, Lisa Ann.View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Stephen Humphrey in Punta Mala, Costa Rica, captured this picture of Venus and Jupiter on February 8, 2023. Thanks, Stephen!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Osama Fathi in Giza, Egypt, captured this picture of the crescent moon, Jupiter and Venus above the Nice Pyramid of Giza. Osama named this photograph “Cosmic love above the pyramids.” Thanks, Osama!
Venus and Jupiter are the 2 brightest planets seen from Earth. And – all through February 2023 – they have been straightforward to identify within the sundown course throughout night twilight. Certainly, dazzling Venus and daring Jupiter crept nearer collectively all through February, with Venus shining because the brighter world. Across the evenings of February 21 and 22, we noticed a spectacular scene within the night twilight, because the younger moon – a waxing crescent – joined the present. Then the large occasion got here. Their conjunction – after they handed inside a moon-diameter on the sky’s dome – occurred at 11 UTC (5 a.m. CST) on March 2, 2023.
At conjunction, Venus handed 0.5 degrees (the width of a full moon) from Jupiter. It was a surprising sight.
On March 1-2, Venus and Jupiter match inside a single binocular discipline of view. Afterwards, Venus can be greater within the sky as Jupiter sinks towards the horizon and the sun.
They’re very, very shiny, certainly! To make certain, you continue to can’t miss them when you look west after sundown. Each outshine all the celebs.
Actually, Venus ranks because the Third-brightest pure physique within the sky, after the sun and moon. Venus is so dazzlingly shiny that some sharp-sighted folks can spot it in daylight.
By the best way, the view adjustments with time relying in your location on the globe. With this in thoughts, for a extra exact star chart out of your location, strive Stellarium.
Venus and Jupiter each are lined with clouds, though the clouds of Venus are extra extremely reflective than these of Jupiter. Plus Venus is nearer to us. That’s why it’s brighter! However each Venus and Jupiter are very, very shiny in our sky … brighter than any of the celebs. Picture of Venus by way of NASA/ JPL-Caltech. Picture of Jupiter by way of NASA/JPL-Caltech/ SwRI/ MSSS. Picture processing by Tanya Oleksuik. CC BY 2.0.
Why are they so shiny?
Venus is about the identical dimension and density as Earth. It orbits one step inward from Earth across the sun. It’s the brightest planet seen from Earth, however why? Certain, it’s comparatively near us. However, additionally, Venus is roofed with extremely reflective clouds. The clouds of Venus are good at reflecting daylight. That’s the primary motive the planet appears to be like shiny to us!
Then again, Jupiter appears to be like shiny primarily by advantage of its dimension. Jupiter is the fifth planet in orbit outward from our sun. It’s means on the market, a lot farther than Venus, previous the asteroid belt. However Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system. With a radius of 43,441 miles (69,911 km), Jupiter is 11 instances wider than Earth. If Earth have been the dimensions of a nickel, Jupiter could be about as massive as a basketball. Certain, it’s distant … 5 instances farther from the sun than Earth. However Jupiter’s dimension makes it shiny!
Right here’s what occurred, in a chart
On March 1-2, 2023, Venus and Jupiter slid previous one another on the dome of the sky. As seen from the Americas, their closest pairing was shortly after sundown on March 1. Notably, they handed roughly a full moon’s width, or half a degree, aside. Chart by John Goss/ EarthSky.
Backside line: The March 1-2 conjunction of the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter has ended. Nice photographs from EarthSky’s group right here.
Marcy Curran has loved star gazing since she was a younger lady occurring household tenting journeys underneath the darkish skies of Wyoming. She purchased her first telescope in time to see Halley’s comet in 1985 on its means in to a different shut encounter with the sun. Her ardour for astronomy ultimately led her to being a co-founder of an area astronomical society. Marcy stays lively in her astronomy membership together with being the editor of a month-to-month e-newsletter. She additionally contributes a month-to-month article to her native newspaper specializing in the celebs, planets and objects presently seen within the nighttime sky. Marcy taught astronomy at her local people faculty for over 20 years. Marcy retired in December 2021 and is delighted to hitch Earthsky.org as an editor of night time sky articles. Her hobbies – apart from star gazing – embrace studying, knitting, jigsaw puzzles and pictures. Marcy and her husband stay in Wyoming.
