Venus and Jupiter to Align in Rare Celestial Event Tonight

Two of the brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, will put on a dazzling display in the night sky on June 9, appearing to nearly touch in an event known as a conjunction. The celestial spectacle will be visible in the northwest low in the sky after dusk.

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The two planets, Venus and Jupiter, which are the brightest in the night sky, will stage a 'Venus-Jupiter conjunction' tonight.

The Taipei Astronomical Museum advises that Venus, shining at magnitude -4.0, and Jupiter, at magnitude -1.9, will be the stars of the show. While the closest approach will occur as the planets near the horizon, there will be a window between sunset and 9 p.m. to witness their proximity. For those with unobstructed views near the horizon, Mercury might also be visible, creating a rare three-planet alignment.

Venus and Jupiter are easily recognizable even in urban environments due to their brilliance. Venus's brightness is due to its thick atmosphere reflecting sunlight, and through a telescope, it displays phases similar to a waxing gibbous moon. Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, is often called the "King of Planets."

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Although the two stars are closest when they are gradually approaching the horizon, there is still a chance to appreciate the sight of the two bright stars approaching each other from sunset until 9 p.m.

A conjunction occurs when two celestial bodies share the same celestial longitude as viewed from Earth. Although they appear close, Venus will be about 200 million kilometers from Earth, and Jupiter about 900 million kilometers away during this event, with over 700 million kilometers separating the two planets.

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Venus and Jupiter are the two brightest planets in the night sky and are very easy to identify even in urban environments.

These conjunctions happen roughly every 10 to 14 months, but not all offer ideal viewing conditions. This particular event is highly recommended for observation due to the planets' high brightness and close apparent distance. The museum suggests finding a location with a clear, unobstructed view to the west to best enjoy the sight with the naked eye.

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From Earth's perspective, when two celestial bodies have the same longitude in the sky, it is called a 'conjunction.'