Best planet grouping in years: See it at Flandrau
“My Months on Mars” + Viewing of Jupiter and Venus in conjunction
Venus and Jupiter, the two normally brightest planets in our sky (Mars can be brighter than Jupiter for a few weeks about every 15 years), are moving closer in skies worldwide, and will group in the most spectacular conjunction of two planets seen in several years at the end of November. The two reach just over 2 degrees apart in our sky on Saturday November 29, and are slightly closer on Sunday November 30, when the Moon is visible below the pair. On Monday night December 1st the Moon is closest to both planets in our sky, making for a rare and spectacular grouping of solar system objects.
 The evening twilight sky facing southwest in late November. For more sky charts see Flandrau's November Skywatchers' Guide. |
While whitish Jupiter is sinking into the glare of the Sun, the brilliant planet Venus gradually gains altitude out of the glare of the Sun, and moves higher above our horizon and into the evening twilight. It will be our unmistakably bright ‘evening star’ this winter. Bright Jupiter, which has dominated the southwestern evening sky this fall for a few hours after sunset, now yields prominence to brilliant white Venus. Distant gas giant Jupiter is still bright and large in a telescope but is much fainter than much closer Venus. Until December 1 (when the two planets lie nearly parallel and the crescent Moon joins the scene), look for bright, whitish Jupiter in the southwestern sky above brighter Venus. Starting December 2, Venus will lie above Jupiter. Jupiter and Venus are both highest each evening in evening twilight but lose altitude early, setting in the west-southwest around 8:20 p.m. during the last week of November.
The public is invited on November 28/29 to join Flandrau and the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA) for special free telescope viewing of this planetary duo, along with other celestial objects. Although viewing is free donations are encouraged. The public is also invited to attend a special talk by Patrick Woida, Phoenix Mars Scout Mission Senior Engineer, Surface Ops & Payload Interoperability Testbed, at The University of Arizona. Patrick will talk on the recent Mars exploration with the Mars Phoenix mission, detailing what we’ve learned and still have yet to understand, but will also describe and tie in to this spectacular planetary grouping (or conjunction) of Venus and Jupiter. Patrick’s presentation on Friday and Saturday nights, November 28 and November 29 will start at 8:00 p.m., last about 45 minutes and costs $7.50 per person for adults and children 4 and older. For more information on this planetary conjunction, see the November Flandrau Skywatchers’ Guide on Flandrau’s Web site at http://www.gotUAsciencecenter.org/astronomy.
Flandrau Science Center is located on the University of Arizona campus on the northeast corner of Cherry Avenue and University Boulevard. Free parking is available on the University of Arizona campus all day Saturday and after 5 p.m. Friday in metered spaces and many parking lots. Information about the planets, the night sky, and planetarium shows is available by calling 621-STAR (7827) or at the Flandrau Web site in the astronomy section or planetarium show section.
Topic: “My Months on Mars”– What’s been learned and what we are learning from the Mars Phoenix mission
Date/Time: Friday November 28 and Saturday November 29
Viewing from 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m., talks (both nights) are at 8 p.m.
Location: Flandrau: The UA Science Center, 1601 E. University Blvd., The University of Arizona, Tucson, 85721
Presenter: Patrick Woida, Phoenix Mars Scout Mission Senior Engineer, Surface Ops & Payload Interoperability Testbed, Science Operations Center, Lunar and Planetary Lab at The University of Arizona
Admission: Talks (includes exhibit entrance and the 6:30 p.m. planetarium show) are $7.50 for adults,
Children (4-9 years old): 5.00 Telescope viewing is Free