Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Planets, Crescent Moon To "Frown" On Skywatchers Dec. 1

Venus and Jupiter appear close together in the sky over Pasadena, California, on February 12, 2008. The two bright planets will slowly converge in the evening skies for a dazzling summit on November 30. On the following night, the pair will be joined by a thin crescent moon. Photograph by Anthony J. Cook

From National Geographic:

Skywatchers across the world are in for a celestial treat as two of the brightest naked-eye planets, Venus and Jupiter, slowly converge in the evening skies for a celestial summit on November 30.

The real showpiece, however, will be on the following night, when a thin crescent moon joins the planetary pair—creating a brief "unhappy face" in the sky.

The planets will appear closest together—an event known as a planetary conjunction—on November 30 around 4 p.m. Pacific time, and the moon will cozy up to the pair on the evening of December 1.

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