Category: Planet Events
Venus Transit in the Press
Public awareness of a unique astronomical event, the Transit of Venus, is appearing. While avid sky-watchers have been anticipating this event for years, the general public is mostly unaware of the event.
This seems to be changing… A number of articles have appeared in the mainstream press this last week, from MSNBC to Fox News, providing information about the transit.
- Rare Venus transit of sun occurs in June – Fox News
- Your last chance to see rare Venus transit coming in June – MSNBC
- Rare Venus Transit of Sun Occurs in June – Discovery News
- Rare Venus Transit of Sun Occurs in June: Skywatching Travel Tips – Space.com
Yes, it is the same article on all of the sites, all apparently picked up from the Space.com site. There is some lesson here on the nature of corporate news today. In any case it is nice to see an astronomical event getting coverage. Any opportunity to get more astronomy onto the public stage is to be taken advantage of.
A transit is a less spectacular event, not exactly a total solar eclipse. It is quite interesting from an astronomical and historical standpoint. There are other articles, the transit is getting more press as the date approaches. In the run up to June 5th it will be interesting to see just what the public response to this event will be.
The Moon and Saturn
A bright trio can be seen tonight as Saturn, the Moon and Spica rise together after sunset. The three will be within 6° of each other. The Moon will be just short of full, over 99% illuminated as it rises. Saturn will be shining at 0.4 magnitude while Spica is very close to 1.0 magnitude.
Venus and the Pleiades
Over the next few days, the planet Venus will transit the Pleiades star cluster. Tonight sees the planet about two degrees from the cluster center, tomorrow the planet will have closed to just over a degree from Merope. April 2nd and 3rd will see the planet essentially among the primary stars of the cluster. On the 2nd the planet will be only 25′ from Merope, on the 3rd it will be 14′ from Atlas.
At -4.4 magnitude the planet will be far brighter than the brightest stars of the cluster which are 3rd and 4th magnitude. Still, it should be an interesting sight to see the brilliant Venus surrounded by a cluster of stars.
The Moon, Venus and Jupiter
While Jupiter and Venus are now drawing apart after their rendezvous a few days ago one more pretty dance will liven the evening sky. With the two only 10° apart a crescent Moon will slide between them. The 11% illuminated Moon will make a nice match for the two brilliant planets, creating a lovely trio in the evening sky.
Tomorrow night the Moon will have moved to the other side of Venus, still quite close at about 4° separation, creating another pretty view.
Uranus at Superior Conjunction
Mercury at Inferior Conjunction
Today the planet Mercury passes through inferior conjunction, passing between the Sun and the Earth. In a week or so the planet will again be visible in the dawn sky, climbing higher each day. Maximum elongation will occur April 18th.
Mercury Exits the Evening Sky
Mercury is ending it’s first evening apparition of 2012. Over the next few days the planet will slide into the sunset heading for inferior conjunction on March 21st and a morning apparition beginning at the end of March.
Venus and Jupiter
A reminder that tonight will see the two brightest planets in our sky just 3° apart. The two have been close for several days now, the closest approach will be this evening. The bright pairing will be visible as soon as the sky begins to darken, setting around 21:46HST. Venus will be the brighter of the pair at -4.3 magnitude, compared to Jupiter at -2.1 magnitude.
The Moon and Saturn
There will be a bright triangle in the sky tonight made up of the Moon, Saturn and Spica. All three will be within 10° of each other. The Moon will dominate the trio at over 87% illumination as it waxes towards full. Saturn will be shining at 0.4 magnitude while Spica is very close to 1.0 magnitude.