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Night Skies: Moon, Venus, Jupiter In Tight Company Tonight
I noticed these tonight and did a little research. Here are two pictures I just took.
By DAVID WAKEFIELD December 1, 2008
There's no need to wait for this month's celestial highlight; get outside tonight an hour after sunset, and look to the southwest. There, low on the horizon, the crescent moon forms a tight triangle with Venus and Jupiter.
But don't delay: It's a one-night show and lasts only a couple of hours before Venus, the lower planet, leads the others below the horizon. By Tuesday night, the moon will have moved away to the upper left.
It's an uncommonly close grouping of the three brightest objects in the night sky, and we're fortunate it occurs in the moon's crescent phase. A fuller moon would detract from the planets' brilliance.
The next time the three will be as close and visible as this week will be Nov. 18, 2052
I noticed these tonight and did a little research. Here are two pictures I just took.
By DAVID WAKEFIELD December 1, 2008
There's no need to wait for this month's celestial highlight; get outside tonight an hour after sunset, and look to the southwest. There, low on the horizon, the crescent moon forms a tight triangle with Venus and Jupiter.
But don't delay: It's a one-night show and lasts only a couple of hours before Venus, the lower planet, leads the others below the horizon. By Tuesday night, the moon will have moved away to the upper left.
It's an uncommonly close grouping of the three brightest objects in the night sky, and we're fortunate it occurs in the moon's crescent phase. A fuller moon would detract from the planets' brilliance.
The next time the three will be as close and visible as this week will be Nov. 18, 2052
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