Tonight and tomorrow night – August 6 and 7, 2015 – the Southern Hemisphere enjoys an advantage in watching the conjunction of the planets Mercury and Jupiter, as the two couple up in the western twilight for a short while after sunset. Depending on where you live worldwide, these two worlds will be closest together at dusk on one of these nights. This conjunction of Mercury and Jupiter will be their closest since May 22, 2012, and they won’t stage a closer one again until November 27, 2018.
The Southern Hemisphere has the advantage over the Northern Hemisphere for catching the conjunction of Mercury and Jupiter. In addition, southerly latitudes are more likely to spot Venus and Regulus, the constellation Leo’s brightest star.
Mercury and Jupiter will be approximately one-half degree apart. For reference, the moon’s diameter covers about one-half degree of sky. The two will easily fit within the same binocular field – or possibly, even in the same field of view in a low-powered telescope.
No matter where you live, it’ll be to your advantage to find an obstructed horizon in the direction of sunset – and, if you can, perch yourself upon a hill or balcony. Also, bring along binoculars if you have them. You’ll almost certainly need binoculars to spot these planets at northerly latitudes, like in the U.S., Canada and Europe. At mid-northern latitudes, these planets stay out for about 45 minutes after sunset – and that’s about it.
Recommended almanacs can help you find Mercury and Jupiter’s setting time in your sky
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At temperate latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, Mercury and Jupiter stay out more than one hour after sundown. Therefore, southerly latitudes have a leg up for witnessing this year’s conjunction of Mercury and Jupiter.
If you’re up before dawn during the next several days, it should be much easier to spot the waning crescent moon near the Pleiades star cluster and Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation Taurus the Bull.
Meteor season is here! Everything you need to know: Perseid meteor shower
The waning crescent moon descends for the eastern horizon until it turns new on August 14, 2015. The green line depicts the ecliptic – Earth’s orbital plane projected outward onto the constellations of the Zodiac
Bottom line: Look for Mercury and Jupiter around August 6 and 7, 2015, low in the west and near the sunset point on the horizon, starting about one-half hour after sunset.
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/1KKv79F
Tonight and tomorrow night – August 6 and 7, 2015 – the Southern Hemisphere enjoys an advantage in watching the conjunction of the planets Mercury and Jupiter, as the two couple up in the western twilight for a short while after sunset. Depending on where you live worldwide, these two worlds will be closest together at dusk on one of these nights. This conjunction of Mercury and Jupiter will be their closest since May 22, 2012, and they won’t stage a closer one again until November 27, 2018.
The Southern Hemisphere has the advantage over the Northern Hemisphere for catching the conjunction of Mercury and Jupiter. In addition, southerly latitudes are more likely to spot Venus and Regulus, the constellation Leo’s brightest star.
Mercury and Jupiter will be approximately one-half degree apart. For reference, the moon’s diameter covers about one-half degree of sky. The two will easily fit within the same binocular field – or possibly, even in the same field of view in a low-powered telescope.
No matter where you live, it’ll be to your advantage to find an obstructed horizon in the direction of sunset – and, if you can, perch yourself upon a hill or balcony. Also, bring along binoculars if you have them. You’ll almost certainly need binoculars to spot these planets at northerly latitudes, like in the U.S., Canada and Europe. At mid-northern latitudes, these planets stay out for about 45 minutes after sunset – and that’s about it.
Recommended almanacs can help you find Mercury and Jupiter’s setting time in your sky
Enjoying EarthSky so far? Sign up for our free daily newsletter today!
At temperate latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, Mercury and Jupiter stay out more than one hour after sundown. Therefore, southerly latitudes have a leg up for witnessing this year’s conjunction of Mercury and Jupiter.
If you’re up before dawn during the next several days, it should be much easier to spot the waning crescent moon near the Pleiades star cluster and Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation Taurus the Bull.
Meteor season is here! Everything you need to know: Perseid meteor shower
The waning crescent moon descends for the eastern horizon until it turns new on August 14, 2015. The green line depicts the ecliptic – Earth’s orbital plane projected outward onto the constellations of the Zodiac
Bottom line: Look for Mercury and Jupiter around August 6 and 7, 2015, low in the west and near the sunset point on the horizon, starting about one-half hour after sunset.
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/1KKv79F
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