If you look at the sky this weekend at the right time, it will give you a wonderful spectacle: you will be able to see two of the brightest planets in the solar system almost touching each other.
Venus and Júpiter are actually separated by millions of kilometers, but, from Earth, it will seem that they are about to collide.
This phenomenon is known as planetary conjunction
happens every year, but this year in particular, both planets will be seen closer than usual.
This will not happen again until within 17 years in 2039.
The show can be seen with the naked eye or with the help of binoculars, as long as the sky is clear .
After Saturday, the two planets will continue their course and gradually separate.
“For the astro ónomos is very exciting and it is a great opportunity for people to see it”, explains space scientist Lucie Green, from the Popular Astronomy Society in the United Kingdom.
Different intensities
How to know which is Venus and which is Jupiter?
“The planets will differ in their brightness. Venus is brighter than Jupiter, so it will look dazzlingly bright when you see it. Jupiter will be a little dimmer, about one-sixth as bright as Venus,” explains Green.
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The conjunction can be seen from the two hemispheres of our planet, at different times of the day and night.
Green recommends using an app so you can easily locate them in the sky.
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