This webpage was generated automatically; to view the article in its original format, you may visit the link below:
https://www.space.com/stargazing/venus-and-saturn-take-a-sunset-stroll-tonight-heres-how-to-see-it
and should you wish to have this article removed from our site, please reach out to us.
Venus and Saturn will be remarkably close together in the evening sky tonight during a cosmic event referred to as a conjunction.
To observe Venus and Saturn, gaze towards the southwest right as the sun sets. Venus will shine brightly and distinctly, appearing at its peak as an “evening star” throughout the month. Saturn, located nearby, will become apparent to the unaided eye as twilight transitions into night, remaining observable for approximately three-and-a-half hours post-sunset, at which point both will descend below the horizon and disappear from sight. The two celestial bodies will approach within about two degrees of each other tonight (your fist held at arm’s length covers roughly 10 degrees of sky).
Two days subsequent to their close encounter tonight, which is also referred to as an appulse, the two planets will align in a formation that astronomers term a conjunction. This indicates that from Earth’s perspective, both celestial bodies share identical right ascension, which is the celestial counterpart to longitude. The conjunction of Venus and Saturn is set to happen on Monday, Jan. 20 at 12:16 a.m. (0516 GMT), as per In-the-Sky.org.
TOP TELESCOPE RECOMMENDATION:
Do you want to view Saturn’s rings? The Celestron NexStar 4SE is perfect for novices seeking quality, dependable, and swift views of astronomical objects. For a comprehensive review, check out our Celestron NexStar 4SE assessment.
Venus will radiate brightly with a magnitude of -4.5, while Saturn will present an apparent magnitude of 1.0 (lower or negative values signify brighter objects in the sky). Although the planets will be luminous enough to be viewed with the naked eye under clear, dark conditions, binoculars or a telescope can enhance visibility, making the duo more distinct. Despite their close proximity, the two planets will be too far apart to fit within a telescope’s field of view, but examining each planet separately through a telescope may highlight features like Saturn’s rings.
During their close encounter, both Venus and Saturn will reside in the Aquarius constellation, which is represented as the water bearer. To assist in locating it, viewers should focus on the southern evening sky, using the bright star Fomalhaut in the adjacent Piscis Austrinus constellation as a reference point for identifying Aquarius.
Above Fomalhaut — one of the most luminous stars in the night sky — observers can seek out the less bright stars that form a Y-shaped pattern symbolizing Aquarius’ water vessel.
Saturn and Venus will continue to appear close for several nights following their conjunction, although they will be more distanced from one another. The connection between Venus and Saturn is merely one spectacle of January’s “planet parade,” where viewers can also anticipate seeing other prominent planets such as Mars and Jupiter.
The four prominent planets will seem to align in the night sky shortly after sunset. Venus and Saturn will be positioned in the southwest, while Jupiter will be high in the sky and Mars will be located in the east. Uranus and Neptune may also be observed during the planetary arrangement, but a telescope will be necessary to detect them as they are not as bright.
For additional skywatching activities this month, don’t forget to check our night sky guide for January 2025 and our tonight’s night sky blog, updated on weekdays with what you can observe throughout the week.
If you’re in the market for binoculars or a telescope to view the planets, our guides to the best binoculars and top telescopes feature options that can assist. Additionally, be sure to explore our guides for advice on photographing the planets.
Editor’s Note: If you manage to capture an impressive photo of Venus and Saturn during the conjunction, or of the planet parade this month, and would like to share it with Space.com’s audience, please send your photo(s), along with your name and location, to [email protected].
This webpage was generated automatically; to view the article in its original format, you may visit the link below:
https://www.space.com/stargazing/venus-and-saturn-take-a-sunset-stroll-tonight-heres-how-to-see-it
and should you wish to have this article removed from our site, please reach out to us.
