About 4:25 this afternoon (EST) I looked out my office window to see it was still light out, alhough only minutes before the sun dipped below the Western Adironack Mountains. It was a spectacular, clear-skied sight. Yes, we are inching our way back into daylight.
For about a month I've been watching two very bright objects in the sky just after sunset. I knew that the one closest to the Western horizon was Venus. But there was another equally bright object in the Southeastern sky that I was pretty sure must be a planet also. It was (and still is) Jupiter.
I got binoculars out when I got home to take a look. One time Nick and I were on Mt Katahdin (in Baxter State Park, Maine) and we were able to view Jupiter's moons. Sure enough, I could make out two moons if I glanced farther away from the side of the planet. Pretty amazing.
Anyway, I thought I'd let you know (and give you plenty of time) that Venus and Jupiter will cross paths and exchange places in February.
Jupiter and Venus at sunset on Feb. 16, 2010. You'll need a clear view of the horizon to spot them just as the sun is going down. Do not look directly at the sun -- it can harm your eyes.
CREDIT: Starry Night Software.
"On the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 16, from our vantage point, Jupiter (moving left to right) will pass Venus (moving right to left). The two planets will appear to be separated from each other by an amount equal to the diameter of our moon in the sky.
"Even though Venus is much smaller in diameter than Jupiter, it will be very much brighter to the eye because it is much closer to the sun and to Earth than Jupiter.
"On Feb. 16, Venus and Jupiter will easily fit in the field of a small telescope. Jupiter will appear more than three times the size of Venus, a brooding giant far beyond brilliant Venus.
"Try to follow the action over the next week as the two planets rapidly approach each other. After Feb. 16, Jupiter will be gone behind the sun for the next month, emerging as a "morning star" late in March. Venus gradually gets farther from the sun and more brilliant, reaching greatest eastern elongation on Aug. 20 and greatest brilliancy on Sept. 23, before passing between Earth and sun on Oct. 29." Information from space.com.)
Some say I'm obsessed with the weather,the sky and any phenomena those things create. They're probably right. I am so often awe-struck by sunsets, rainbows, sun dogs, Northern Lights, shooting stars and so much more. So many things – here for only an instant, then gone. Just makes me realize whoever it was that said, "Take time to stop and smell the roses," wasn't just talking about roses.
So, get out there and start looking. You might be surprised at what you've been missing.
I was wondering what those bright stars were. I hope we have clear weather on Feb. 16, because I'd love to see those 2 planets so close together.
Posted by: lynn | January 20, 2012 at 09:19 AM
Tonight I will go out and take it look. It's supposed to be clear. Sounds fascinating.
Posted by: pam | January 21, 2012 at 02:48 PM
WOW, I will have to spend more time looking up.
Posted by: Terry | January 22, 2012 at 11:31 AM