Are you prepared for Venus and Jupiter’s shut method this month? It should be spectacular. This is methods to see it

Venus is the brightest planet that may be seen from Earth. At its peak brightness, when 22% illuminated, Venus approaches magazine. –5 – that’s so brilliant that it could possibly forged shadows, if situations enable.

Jupiter is brilliant too, capable of attain magazine. –2.94 underneath optimum situations (coincidentally, that’s the identical most brightness as Mars). Mercury isn’t far behind, capable of attain a peak magnitude of –2.48.

Find out extra about observing the planets in August and the August 2025 planet parade.

Of course, catching all 4 close to each other at peak brightness can’t really occur, as Jupiter and Mars have to be reverse the Sun, a place that Mercury and Venus can by no means attain.

That’s to not say {that a} assembly between a few of these worlds isn’t spectacular.

And in August 2025, you’ll have an opportunity to have a look and see for your self.

Key dates

On 1 August, it’s simply magazine. –3.9 Venus and magazine. –1.8 Jupiter that seem collectively within the daybreak twilight.

They seem somewhat underneath 11° aside on this date, each being above the horizon simply after 03:00 BST (02:00 UT).

But you’ll want to provide them a bit extra time to get to an honest altitude for viewing, say from round 04:00 BST (03:00 UT).

Over the course of the next mornings, the obvious hole between them closes as a consequence of Venus making a splash to the east, operating underneath the celebrities that kind the Gemini twin Castor’s foot.

Catch Venus early sufficient on 2 August, when the sky remains to be darkish, and also you may be capable to see it 2.3° south of the open cluster M35. Binoculars will give one of the best view of this assembly. 

On the morning of 7 August, the separation will likely be simply 5°, Venus’s eastward rush far better than the gradual eastward crawl at present exhibited by Jupiter.

Mercury is round too, however stubbornly refuses to be seen on this date, being too far entrenched within the Sun’s glare.

By 10 August, Jupiter and Venus will seem somewhat over 2° aside, now a hanging pair for individuals who rise up early sufficient to see them.

The closest method happens on the morning of 12 August, the planets being separated by 52 arcminutes.

Telescopically, Venus is exhibiting a 13-arcsecond disc, 78%-illuminated.

Jupiter seems 33 arcseconds throughout. 

After 12 August, the pair begin to separate as soon as once more, however one other aspect is now prepared to return into play.

Mercury is now brightening, showing as a star-like dot within the morning twilight additional to the east of the primary pair.

Between 19 and 22 August, the waxing crescent Moon skips alongside the road of planets, augmenting what is certain to be an already dynamic Solar System show.

If you observe or {photograph} Venus and Jupiter in August 2025, we might love to listen to from you! Email us through [email protected]