# Anyone watching the conjunction of Jupiter and Venus? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 23, 2008, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-the-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-venus/474056 "2008-11-23T00:48:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-the-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-venus/474056/1 "2008-11-23T00:48:31Z")
The [meteor strike](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=493990) thread got me thinking: Anyone else watching the conjuction of Venus and Jupiter lately? It’s like a race, where Jupiter’s trying to catch up with Venus every night, and he’s slowly doing so. My fav site for things like this: [Heavens Above](http://www.heavens-above.com) Tripler Paging **BadAstronomer**. . . ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-the-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-venus/474056/2 "2008-11-23T03:02:11Z")
I been keeping an eye on the pair 'round about sunset; according to my Old Farmer’s Almanac the big nights are the 29th and 30th. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-the-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-venus/474056/3 "2008-11-23T12:52:06Z")
I saw 'em in the sky the other evening. Pretty spectacular already, though still well separated. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-the-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-venus/474056/4 "2008-11-23T13:41:52Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > I saw 'em in the sky the other evening. Pretty spectacular already, though still well separated. Yep, I´ve been watching them getting closer night after night when I leave the office in the evening. It was specially nice when they were aligned with the crescent moon. Tonight, by eyeball, they where about 12 or 15 degrees appart. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-the-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-venus/474056/5 "2008-11-23T18:17:44Z")
Ah-ha! Driving home the other night, it was clear and still light-ish at five o’clock. I saw Venus and a friend in the sky, nice and bright, with no other ‘stars’ visible. I figured the other one was a planet, too. Thanks for the info; I will keep looking up. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-the-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-venus/474056/6 "2008-11-24T06:44:14Z")
The conjunction of Jupiter and Venus? Who’s been a naughty planet… ---
**Author:** ![CAT\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@CAT\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CAT_1)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-the-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-venus/474056/7 "2008-11-24T06:57:01Z")
Yes, we have been watching them. Tonight they were especially noticible in our area. My five year old son even mentioned them on Friday night too. They caught his eye. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-the-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-venus/474056/8 "2008-11-24T20:21:58Z")
It’s getting quite spectacular, isn’t it? I’m waiting for the “smiley face” that will be formed next Monday night (1 December) when the crescent moon and two planets are close enough together to become the eyes and mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-the-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-venus/474056/9 "2008-11-25T00:53:39Z")
_When the Moon is in the Seventh House And Jupiter aligns with Venus, Then peace will guide the planets…_ ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-the-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-venus/474056/10 "2008-11-25T01:48:37Z")
> [@Terrifel](#): > > _When the Moon is in the Seventh House > And Jupiter aligns with Venus, > Then peace will guide the planets…_ _It is the dawning of the age of aquariums, the age of aquariuuuuuums. Aquaariuuuuuums! Aaaaquaaaariiiiuuuuuuuuuums!_ Aw man, there’s a storm rolling through. I was going to get a picture of Venus reflecting on the bay behind my current apartment. :mad: Tripler Maybe tomorrow night! ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-the-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-venus/474056/11 "2008-11-25T02:00:31Z")
I just noticed a really bright star tonight, off to the west, southwest. I thought it was a plane at first. Is there an online astronomy map that could tell me what I’m looking at right now? ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-the-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-venus/474056/12 "2008-11-25T02:02:55Z")
I’ve been keeping an eye on it. My girls have been enjoying it too. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-the-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-venus/474056/13 "2008-11-25T02:20:15Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > I just noticed a really bright star tonight, off to the west, southwest. I thought it was a plane at first. > > Is there an online astronomy map that could tell me what I’m looking at right now? Use that link I posted in the OP–it’s customizable for your particular location (it may ask you to start a quick account though, which is free) Tripler Give 'er a shot. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-the-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-venus/474056/14 "2008-11-25T02:33:34Z")
Thanks. I found one and that was Venus I saw. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-the-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-venus/474056/15 "2008-11-26T02:46:57Z")
Wow. We’d not taken our evening walk for awhile and even though I expected to see something after reading this thread, it was still startling to see the two so close. That’s spectacular. > [@Cunctator](#): > > I’m waiting for the “smiley face” that will be formed next Monday night (1 December) when the crescent moon and two planets are close enough together to become the eyes and mouth. I shared this with a number of my neighbors. So far everyone from 4 to 72 is _pumped_. Just had a thought… sometimes on MNF they use those high res cameras to really zoom in on the moon. What an opportunity they have this. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-the-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-venus/474056/16 "2008-11-26T06:32:35Z")
Some more details of the smiley face: [link](http://www.sydneyobservatory.com.au/events/whatson.asp) ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-the-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-venus/474056/17 "2008-11-26T08:01:57Z")
I saw them driving home down the M3 last night. They were clearly visible while the sky was still quite bright. Then, when I got home, I walked into the back yard, and looked up to see if I see them. Forlorn hope, as the back of our place is pretty enclosed and they were low on the horizon. Instead, I saw a really bright dot moving across the sky, west to east. It got smaller, red, then faded out half way across the sky. It was the **ISS+Shuttle** , catching the sun, then the sunset through the atmosphere, then into the shadow. I’ve seen the ISS before, but this was pretty cool. Si ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-the-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-venus/474056/18 "2008-11-26T16:04:17Z")
I see them every evening when I walk my doggie. Beautiful! ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-the-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-venus/474056/19 "2008-11-26T16:24:55Z")
Pretty much right in front of me as I walk home from the train every night. Way cool. How much closer are they going to get? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-the-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-venus/474056/20 "2008-11-29T23:05:59Z")
And some details from the Sydney paper: [a smile that will light up the night sky](http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/a-smile-that-will-light-up-the-night-sky/2008/11/28/1227491827180.html) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-watching-the-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-venus/474056.md?page=2)