Astroblog: Dance of the Planets II, Venus, Jupiter and the Crescent Moon 25-27 March

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Dance of the Planets II, Venus, Jupiter and the Crescent Moon 25-27 March

From left to right, views of Venus Jupiter and the crescent Moon as seen from Adelaide at 8:00 pm local daylight saving time on the 25th, 26th and 27th. Click to embiggen, similar views will be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time. Images generated by Stellarium.

If you have been watching Venus and Jupiter over the past few weeks (see here, here and here), you will have seen them draw close together and then start moving apart. Starting Sunday 25th March the crescent Moon joins then for a rather beautiful line-up, which is best on Monday the 26th when the Moon is directly between Venus and Jupiter.

If you look to the west between half an hour and an hour after sunset you will have the best views, especially if you have a level, unobstructed western horizon.

Labels: Conjunction, Jupiter, Moon, stellarium, Venus