Superb moon, Venus, Jupiter on June 19-21

Best photos: Venus and Jupiter, west after sunset

Tonight – June 19, 2015 – and for a couple of nights after this one … you won’t want to miss the great extravaganza in the western sky after sunset. The brightest, second-brightest and third-brightest celestial bodies of nighttime are the moon, and the planets Venus and Jupiter, respectively. On these nights, these three bright worlds lie close together in Earth’s evening twilight sky.

Be sure to catch the glorious threesome as night is falling because they’ll all follow the sun beneath the horizon by early-to-mid evening.

On the evening of June 19, the waxing crescent moon sets first, followed by Venus and then Jupiter.

Then, each evening at dusk, you’ll see the moon a little higher in the western twilight.

There’s a bright star up there, too, with the moon and planets. It’s noticeable because it makes a line with Venus and Jupiter. The star is Regulus, sometimes called the Heart of the Lion in the constellation Leo.

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Watch for the moon to swing by Jupiter on June 20 and the star Regulus on June 21. The green line depicts the ecliptic – the annual pathway of the sun through the constellations of the Zodiac.

Over the next few days, watch as the moons climbs eastward, and upward, relative to Venus and Jupiter, as it makes its monthly rounds through the constellations of the Zodiac.

On June 19, the moon and Venus reside in front of the constellation Cancer the Crab while Jupiter shines in front of the constellation Leo the Lion, not real far from Leo’s brightest star, Regulus.

After the moon passes through over these next several evenings, keep watching. Watch throughout the remainder of June, 2015 as Venus edges closer and closer Jupiter.

By the month’s end, Venus and Jupiter will stage their closest conjunction in the evening sky until August 27, 2016.

Depending on where you live worldwide, the planets Venus and Jupiter will stage their closest conjunction of the year on June 30 or July 1.

About month from now, on July 18, the moon will have moved full circle through the constellations of the Zodiac. And Venus and Jupiter will have moved closer to the star Regulus.

In short, that means you’ll see a most impressive grouping of these four luminaries – the moon, Venus, Jupiter and Regulus – after the sun sets on July 18, 2015.

Circle July 18, 2015, on your calendar. The waxing crescent moon, Venus, Jupiter and Regulus will convene in the west at dusk/nightfall.

But in the meantime, watch the June spectacular these next few evenings, and then note how the wanderers – the moon, Venus and Jupiter – move relative to fixed star, Regulus.

EarthSky astronomy kits are perfect for beginners. Order today from the EarthSky store

Donate: Your support means the world to us

from EarthSky http://ift.tt/1LXKlHJ

Best photos: Venus and Jupiter, west after sunset

Tonight – June 19, 2015 – and for a couple of nights after this one … you won’t want to miss the great extravaganza in the western sky after sunset. The brightest, second-brightest and third-brightest celestial bodies of nighttime are the moon, and the planets Venus and Jupiter, respectively. On these nights, these three bright worlds lie close together in Earth’s evening twilight sky.

Be sure to catch the glorious threesome as night is falling because they’ll all follow the sun beneath the horizon by early-to-mid evening.

On the evening of June 19, the waxing crescent moon sets first, followed by Venus and then Jupiter.

Then, each evening at dusk, you’ll see the moon a little higher in the western twilight.

There’s a bright star up there, too, with the moon and planets. It’s noticeable because it makes a line with Venus and Jupiter. The star is Regulus, sometimes called the Heart of the Lion in the constellation Leo.

Enjoying EarthSky so far? Sign up for our free daily newsletter today!

Watch for the moon to swing by Jupiter on June 20 and the star Regulus on June 21. The green line depicts the ecliptic – the annual pathway of the sun through the constellations of the Zodiac.

Over the next few days, watch as the moons climbs eastward, and upward, relative to Venus and Jupiter, as it makes its monthly rounds through the constellations of the Zodiac.

On June 19, the moon and Venus reside in front of the constellation Cancer the Crab while Jupiter shines in front of the constellation Leo the Lion, not real far from Leo’s brightest star, Regulus.

After the moon passes through over these next several evenings, keep watching. Watch throughout the remainder of June, 2015 as Venus edges closer and closer Jupiter.

By the month’s end, Venus and Jupiter will stage their closest conjunction in the evening sky until August 27, 2016.

Depending on where you live worldwide, the planets Venus and Jupiter will stage their closest conjunction of the year on June 30 or July 1.

About month from now, on July 18, the moon will have moved full circle through the constellations of the Zodiac. And Venus and Jupiter will have moved closer to the star Regulus.

In short, that means you’ll see a most impressive grouping of these four luminaries – the moon, Venus, Jupiter and Regulus – after the sun sets on July 18, 2015.

Circle July 18, 2015, on your calendar. The waxing crescent moon, Venus, Jupiter and Regulus will convene in the west at dusk/nightfall.

But in the meantime, watch the June spectacular these next few evenings, and then note how the wanderers – the moon, Venus and Jupiter – move relative to fixed star, Regulus.

EarthSky astronomy kits are perfect for beginners. Order today from the EarthSky store

Donate: Your support means the world to us

from EarthSky http://ift.tt/1LXKlHJ