Ray Ewing

Venus and Jupiter Conjunction

On Tuesday morning, before most of us have risen for the day, there will be an astronomical spectacle worth getting up and outside.

On Tuesday morning, before most of us have risen for the day, there will be an astronomical spectacle worth getting up and outside. The two brightest planets in our solar system will appear side by side, only a fraction of a degree apart.

Venus and Jupiter have been closing in on each other for the last month. And you can see them this weekend appearing so close to be a wonderful memory. But the show is at its best Tuesday morning when the two are closest together. 

Though they appear close enough to talk to each other, Venus is about 99 million miles away, while Jupiter is 567 million miles away. The two are in the zodiacal constellation Gemini, a constellation we normally associate with winter and early spring.

If you have a telescope, try and get a look at these two. Venus is a waxing gibbous phase and Jupiter looks almost full in size. Looking ahead, Jupiter will move more westward, away from Venus. Don't just narrow your view to Tuesday morning. Watch the two planets as they separate in the mornings that follow.

Sunrise and Sunset
Day Sunrise Sunset
Fri., August 8 5:42 7:51
Sat., August 9 5:43 7:50
Sun., August 10 5:44 7:48
Mon., August 11 5:44 7:47
Tues., August 12 5:46 7:46
Wed., August 13 5:47 7:44
Thurs., August 14 5:48 7:43
Fri., August 15 5:49 7:41

Temperatures and Precipitations
Day Max (Fº) Min (Fº) Inches
August 1 79 63 0.30
August 2 70 55 0.01
August 3 78 53 0.00
August 4 80 55 T
August 5 81 58 0.00
August 6 80 66 0.00
August 7 78 63 0.00

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