Prepare for a conflict of the titans when Venus and Jupiter, the 2 brightest planets in our Photo voltaic System, come collectively for a stunning occasion seen throughout the size and breadth of the UK. By Astronomy Now’s Night time Sky supervisor Mark Armstrong.
There’s nothing fairly like two brilliant planets drawing shut collectively. So, be sure you set your alarm for the small hours of Tuesday 12 August to see dazzling Venus and sensible Jupiter, shining at magnitude –4 and –1.9 respectively, mendacity round 50 arcminutes aside. That’s lower than two full Moon diameters!
The conjunction takes place low over the east-northeastern horizon, so you will want to stake out an honest observing website beforehand.
On the morning of 12 August, Venus and Jupiter rise among the many brilliant stars of Gemini at about 2.30am BST from London (about 10 to fifteen minutes earlier from Edinburgh), with Jupiter peeping above the horizon first. Below haze-free circumstances each planets needs to be simple to see in a darkish sky about 3.30am (verify your good cellphone or pocket compass for an azimuth of round 63° and 73° from London and Edinburgh, respectively).
Having a pair of binoculars at hand is a prudent transfer in case of lower than cooperative atmospheric circumstances. And owing to the numerous atmospheric dimming this near the horizon, neither planets will seem fairly as brilliant as their magnitudes recommend.
A small telescope will give a fantastic view of the conjunction, and even a 200mm (8-inch) SCT working with a low-power wide-field eyepiece frames the pair.
By about 4.15am from London (round 90 minutes earlier than dawn) the gathering twilight begins to lighten the sky considerably. By then, Venus and Jupiter will likely be 14 levels excessive, climbing to 27 levels or so and mendacity due east by dawn.
