Skywatchers, you’ll wish to mark your calendars, clear your schedule, and get all of your gear prepared. Over the previous few days, Venus and Jupiter have been approaching conjunction, and they’ll quickly make their closest strategy to 1 one other in a stunning occasion value taking the time to witness.

February introduced a stunning present for individuals who regarded up within the night time sky, catching the planets Venus and Jupiter up there. Though the time for catching them alongside the Full Moon has handed, you continue to have time to catch one thing even cooler: the conjunction.

What’s a conjunction?

A conjunction occurs when two or extra planets are very shut to one another within the sky, based on Star Stroll. After all, the planets aren’t actually shut to one another — they’re thousands and thousands of light-years away from every otger — however from our view on Earth, a conjunction is once they seem shut collectively.

“From an astronomical viewpoint, a conjunction occurs when celestial objects share the identical proper ascension or ecliptic longitude within the sky,” Star Stroll explains. Typical conjunctions have the celestial objects solely 0.5-0.9 levels aside, however there are some, like this week’s, that get nearer.

“Conjunctions are most generally related to planets,” BBC Science Focus explains, “however they will additionally happen with any two astronomical objects, together with asteroids, moons, stars, and naturally, the Solar.”

On this case, we’ll see an amazing conjunction when Venus and Jupiter seem simply 39 arcminutes aside — arcminutes are a unit of angular measurement utilized in many fields, together with astronomy — or lower than half a level.

When can we see the conjunction of Venus and Jupiter?

On each March 1 and a couple of “you may glimpse because the sky’s two brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, sliding previous one another on the dome of the sky,” EarthSky explains. “As seen from the Americas, their closest pairing is shortly after sundown on March 1.”

BBC Science Focus offers a extra detailed description of the timeline, saying that on March 1, Venus and Jupiter will attain their closest of 39 arcminutes aside. By March 2, they’ll already start to tug aside from one another, although they may stay shut at 45 arcminutes aside. At that time, “Venus is now above Jupiter, showing to ‘overtake’ the gasoline big,” the publication stories.

How one can watch the Venus-Jupiter conjunction with the children.

For those who and the children wish to watch the Venus and Jupiter conjunction this week, the occasion fortunately might be seen with the bare eye — search for two super-sized, tremendous brilliant objects within the sky. You’ll get a significantly better view with binoculars or a telescope, however the present will nonetheless be superb even for those who don’t have entry to these.

The present may also be seen from the consolation of your private home if it’s too chilly to take the children out. Starting at 1:30 EST on March 1 and a couple of, the Digital Telescope Challenge could have reside views by means of its gigantic telescope.

A reside stream may even play on YouTube, providing a have a look at Venus and Jupiter by means of the robotic telescopes in Ceccano, Italy.

For those who’re not capable of catch this celestial alignment, Jupiter and Venus are likely to align each 10 to fifteen months — so no worries.