SKY WATCH!

Rare visible conjunction of Venus, Mars and Jupiter. - Peter Russell

Rare visible conjunction of Venus, Mars and Jupiter.

You may remember in the summer of 1991, Mars, Venus and Jupiter passed by each other in a spectacular threefold conjunction in the evening sky. Another conjunction of the three is happening now. This time they are coming even closer, though being lower in the sky they aren't quite so clearly visible.

The closest approach will be around 17-22th of November. Look for the three immediately after sunset. You will need a low horizon - sea best - they will be close to the sun - about a finger's length (at arm's length) away. Venus is the brightest, Jupiter next, and Mars the faintest. Before the conjunction Mars is to the left of Jupiter and initially below. As the three come together, Mars passes very close to Venus, almost passing behind it on the 22nd, and stays slightly below and to the right of Venus as the three slowly pull apart.

The next time these three will be this close is 2152 AD. So this may be your last chance.

As you look at the three hanging so apparently close together try seeing them as they really are - strung out across our solar system like a line of pearls.

Saturn, by the way, is also in the evening sky. At sunset it is high in the south, below the great square of Pegasus.

------------ Pete ------------ www.artfolio.com/pete/