Conjunction of Jupiter and Venus on June 29, 2015. John Magliacane/Space Weather Gallery

Jupiter and Venus, the brightest planets in the night sky, will cross paths on Saturday, August 27, giving stargazers a rare opportunity to view the two planets right next to each other above the western horizon. The next time Jupiter and Venus will have such a conjunction, as it's called, will be in 2065.

Jupiter has been visible in the night sky for much of 2016, while Venus has been hidden in the morning sky by the glare of the sun. But that is about to change as Jupiter sets from the night sky—meaning it will henceforth be up during the day, hidden by the light of the sun—and Venus transitions from the morning sky to the night sky where it will be visible among the stars. As the two planets transition, they will cross each other's paths just above the horizon, almost close enough to touch.

EarthSky

When they are at their closest, Jupiter and Venus will sit about one-fifteenth of a degree apart on the dome of the sky. That's about an eighth of the apparent diameter of the moon—plenty close to get both planets within the field of view of a telescope or pair of binoculars.

Catching the two planets will require a little planning, though, as the closest encounter will occur just above the horizon right after the sun sets. To get the best view, find a rural place with an unobstructed view of the western horizon and look right above the sunset point 30 to 40 minutes after sundown. A pair of binoculars should help to locate the planets a bit earlier, which will be visible in clear skies for only about 30 minutes before they too sink below the horizon.

Source: EarthSky

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