Watch Mars and Jupiter Appear to Almost Touch in a Rare Conjunction

Two of Earth’s neighbors volition look awfully adjacent successful the entity connected August 14, arsenic the orbits of Mars and Jupiter marque them look to astir touch.

A conjunction is an astronomical word for erstwhile 2 oregon much bodies successful abstraction intimately attack each other, comparative to the presumption from Earth. While the objects look adjacent to each other, successful actuality they tin inactive beryllium millions—or trillions—of miles from each other. In the lawsuit of the Mars and Jupiter conjunction, the 2 planets will, astatine their nearest, beryllium much than 300 cardinal miles (500 cardinal kilometers) apart.

After the conjunction, Mars volition statesman inching higher successful the entity from our position connected Earth, portion Jupiter volition besides determination up, but astatine a faster rate, yet pulling distant towards the evening sky, according to EarthSky.

The brace volition commence with their celestial rendezvous astatine roughly 10:30 p.m. connected August 13, though the champion viewing from the eastbound seashore volition beryllium successful the hours earlier sunrise during the pursuing day. The 2 planets, arsenic always, volition beryllium disposable to the unaided eye. Jupiter volition beryllium the brighter of the pair, and tin beryllium contrasted to Mars’ signature reddish hue. With a decent brace of binoculars, Jupiter’s moons whitethorn beryllium visible, and for scope owners, the 2 planets volition beryllium disposable successful the aforesaid view.

To get a glimpse of the conjunction, look towards the eastbound sky. The planetary alignment volition look successful beforehand of the Taurus constellation adjacent to Aldebaran. Skywatching apps, specified arsenic Sky Guide and StarMap 3D+, tin besides assistance you find the brace successful the nighttime sky.

Conjunctions involving Mars and Jupiter aren’t that rare, taking spot astir erstwhile each 26 to 27 months. The brace past passed each different successful 2022. This year’s conjunction, however, is notable for conscionable however adjacent the planets volition look to each other. Mars and Jupiter won’t look successful specified adjacent proximity again until December 1, 2033, according to Space.com.

“Planetary conjunctions traditionally person been much the worldly of astrology than superior astronomy, but they ne'er neglect to impressment during observations, peculiarly erstwhile the state giants are involved,” said Mitzi Adams, an astronomer and researcher astatine NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center successful a post connected the abstraction agency’s website astir the 2022 conjunction.

If you’re not capable to spot the conjunction for yourself, fearfulness not. The Virtual Telescope Project is livestreaming the event.