Scientists announce beautiful summer conjunctions of Jupiter with Venus and Mercury

This summer, skywatchers in Russia will be able to observe two striking astronomical events: close conjunctions of Jupiter with Venus and Mercury. The information was shared by Mikhail Maslov, an engineer at the Vega Observatory of Novosibirsk State University.

Jupiter meets Venus

The first and most impressive conjunction will occur on the night of June 9–10. At that time, the angular distance between Jupiter and Venus will shrink to just 1.6 degrees, roughly three times smaller than the apparent diameter of the full Moon.

Because Venus and Jupiter are the brightest planets in Earth's sky, their close approach will be easily visible to the naked eye. They will be best observed in the evening sky toward the west during the weeks before and after the conjunction. The planets will appear as two bright points of light gradually moving closer together.

Jupiter and Mercury

The second conjunction is expected on the night of August 15, when Jupiter will make a close approach to Mercury.

Mercury is usually difficult to observe from Earth because it always appears close to the Sun and is often lost in its glare. However, during the August conjunction, the planet will be positioned at a sufficiently large angular distance from the Sun, making observation much easier.

Observers should look for Mercury in the eastern sky shortly before sunrise.

Why it matters

Planetary conjunctions occur fairly often, but when they involve bright objects, they become particularly impressive sights in the night sky. Observing them requires little more than clear weather and minimal light pollution. Binoculars or a small telescope can make the experience even more rewarding.

In short

This summer will feature two notable conjunctions involving Jupiter: one with Venus on June 9–10 and another with Mercury on the night of August 15. The Venus conjunction is expected to be especially spectacular because of the brightness of both planets. These events offer an excellent opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the night sky without any specialized equipment.