Venus and Saturn conjunction
On January 22, 2023, catch the dazzling planet Venus and much-fainter planet Saturn close to one another after sundown. Begin trying close to the place the sun simply set as twilight falls. As a bonus, chances are you’ll spot the younger waxing crescent moon nearer to the horizon. The sliver of a crescent moon will set about half-hour earlier than the planets. Then, the planets will disappear over the horizon roughly 90 minutes after sundown.
At their closest, Venus will move 0.4 degrees (virtually the width of a full moon) from Saturn on the sky’s dome.
You should not have any drawback recognizing Saturn close to Venus with the attention alone. Each are shiny planets! However Venus is far, a lot brighter. Do you’ve gotten binoculars or a telescope? These two worlds are so shut collectively from our perspective that they’ll match inside a single area of view.
Saturn is shining at +0.7 magnitude. In the meantime, Venus shines at -3.9 magnitude. In truth, Venus ranks because the Third-brightest celestial physique within the sky, after the sun and moon. Venus is so dazzlingly shiny that some sharp-sighted folks may even spot it in daylight.
Moon close to Venus and Saturn on January 23
Whereas Venus and Saturn could also be a bit farther away from one another on the dome of our sky on January 23, the moon has moved nearer to the planetary social gathering. The 2 planets at the moment are over a level aside, and with the skinny waxing crescent moon so shut, they make a stunning trio within the early night sky.
The view adjustments with time relying in your location on the globe. A few of you – for instance, these within the Philippines – get to see Venus and Saturn lower than a half diploma aside on January 23 after they’re closest to the moon. For a extra exact star chart out of your location, attempt Stellarium.
Submit your photos of Venus, Saturn and the moon to EarthSky Community Photos.
Backside line: What’s the brilliant object close to the fainter one within the west after sundown? It’s the Venus and Saturn conjunction! They’ll be closest on January 22, 2023.
