A Spectacular Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter   
       
   June 30, 2016:  August 2016 is a special month for backyard astronomy. Why?    
   Because on almost any evening in August you can take a tour of the solar   
   system-no telescope required.   
       
   For most of the month, the five brightest planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars,   
   Jupiter and Saturn) have been splayed across the evening sky, with the Moon   
   hopping from one to another and highlighting each one on a different night   
   while acting as a helpful guide to novice sky watchers.   
       
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE1WjvtpIts   
       
   As August comes to a close, however, no guide is needed.  Something so   
   eye-catching and beautiful is going to happen, even the least experienced sky   
   watcher can find it without help.   
       
   On August 27th, Venus and Jupiter will converge in the sunset sky only about   
   1/15th of a degree apart.  If you hold a pencil at arm's length, the eraser   
   would cover both planets at once.  Two bright planets so close together are   
   practically impossible to miss.  Just make sure you have an unobstructed view   
   of the western horizon.   
       
   The converging planets might even look like they're going to touch.  They   
   won't. Venus is 144 million miles away, while Jupiter is more than 4 times   
   farther.  To the human eye, however, the distance between the two will appear   
   breathtakingly small.   
       
   At closest approach, Venus and Jupiter easily fit within the same binocular or   
   telescopic field of view.  If you have a small telescope, take a look. Because   
   Venus is an interior planet, we sometimes see it as a crescent, like the Moon.   
   But not this time.  On August 27th, Venus will be nearly full. You'll see 93%   
   of the cloudy disk of Venus, illuminated by the sun.  You'll also see the   
   ruddy-brown cloud belts of Jupiter and, maybe, the giant planet's largest   
   moons.  All of this will be visible, all at once, in the circumference of a   
   single eyepiece.   
       
   Just remember, though, that a telescope is not required.  Venus and Jupiter   
   are bright enough to see with the naked eye even from light-polluted urban   
   areas.  Try to catch them about 30 minutes after sunset, as they will have set   
   by the time the sky fades to completely black.  The sight of two planets in   
   conjunction surrounded by twilight blue is an extra-beautiful sight.   
   August 2016:  If you didn't love astronomy at the beginning of the month, you   
   will love it by the end.   
       
   For more news about happenings in the night sky, stay tuned to science.nasa.gov   
       
       
   Regards,   
       
   Roger   
      
   --- DB 3.99 + W10 (1607)   
    * Origin: NCS BBS - Houma, LoUiSiAna (1:3828/7)