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Venus and Jupiter conjunction: Sky-watchers witness dawn display | Venus and Jupiter conjunction: Sky-watchers witness dawn display |
(35 minutes later) | |
Jupiter and Venus - the two brightest planets - have appeared together in the morning sky. | Jupiter and Venus - the two brightest planets - have appeared together in the morning sky. |
They have been visible to the naked eye across the UK and countries in the mid-northern latitudes, including parts of the US. | They have been visible to the naked eye across the UK and countries in the mid-northern latitudes, including parts of the US. |
Experts said they were so close as to appear almost on top of each other, perhaps looking like one bright star. | Experts said they were so close as to appear almost on top of each other, perhaps looking like one bright star. |
In the UK the best viewing time was 40 minutes before sunrise, but the planets began appearing before dawn. | In the UK the best viewing time was 40 minutes before sunrise, but the planets began appearing before dawn. |
While the planets have been visible to the unaided eye, viewers with a telescope have also been able to see Jupiter's four Galilean moons. | While the planets have been visible to the unaided eye, viewers with a telescope have also been able to see Jupiter's four Galilean moons. |
People in the UK have taken to social media to share their photos of the planetary display. | People in the UK have taken to social media to share their photos of the planetary display. |
Viewed from London, the planets began appearing shortly before 06:00 GMT with the conjunction occurring just after. | Viewed from London, the planets began appearing shortly before 06:00 GMT with the conjunction occurring just after. |
Those on high ground with a clear view of the eastern horizon had the best chance of witnessing the planetary display. | Those on high ground with a clear view of the eastern horizon had the best chance of witnessing the planetary display. |
Mark Thompson, an astronomer and former presenter on the BBC show Stargazing Live, said conjunctions occur when planets line up in such a way that they appear from Earth to be next to each other - despite in this case being hundreds of millions of miles apart. | |
Mr Thompson told the BBC the cloudy atmospheres of the two planets made them appear bright to the naked eye. | Mr Thompson told the BBC the cloudy atmospheres of the two planets made them appear bright to the naked eye. |
He said the event was not uncommon - Venus and Jupiter appeared together in 2015 and 2016, also on 13 November - but it was much rarer for them to appear so close to each other. | He said the event was not uncommon - Venus and Jupiter appeared together in 2015 and 2016, also on 13 November - but it was much rarer for them to appear so close to each other. |
"There have certainly been cases where they've been close in the sky but they've not been this close in recent years, certainly the last couple of planetary conjunctions. | "There have certainly been cases where they've been close in the sky but they've not been this close in recent years, certainly the last couple of planetary conjunctions. |
"This is actually quite a good conjunction because they're so close, and over the next few years they'll pass each other and be close but not this close… | "This is actually quite a good conjunction because they're so close, and over the next few years they'll pass each other and be close but not this close… |
"One as close as this, you're probably looking decades rather than years." | "One as close as this, you're probably looking decades rather than years." |
Those who missed the event will be able to see the two planets again on Tuesday morning, but they will not be as close together. | Those who missed the event will be able to see the two planets again on Tuesday morning, but they will not be as close together. |
According to Nasa, stargazers will be treated to another planetary pairing later this month, when Saturn will meet Mercury on the western horizon at dusk on 24 and 28 November. | According to Nasa, stargazers will be treated to another planetary pairing later this month, when Saturn will meet Mercury on the western horizon at dusk on 24 and 28 November. |
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