Posted on 11/29/2008 10:44:03 AM PST by ETL
I forgot to point out that the sky maps I posted were for my New York City location. The pair (Venus and Jupiter) will be higher (more north) or lower (more south) in the sky at latitudes higher or lower than my approximate 41 degrees. For me they are about 1/3rd of the way up from the southern horizon just after sunset.
Thanks for making me aware of that Web site. As to the position in the southern sky, they will be quite low on the horizon here in central Florida at 6 PM EST, soon to disappear from view (tonight, they will have set by 8:30 PM according to the tool).
At 6PM, yes. That is because they are both currently setting at around 7PM. The sky rotates about 15 degrees every hour (15 x 24hrs = 360), and so at 6PM they would both be a mere 15 degrees above the western horizon. Venus and Jupiter, although they are in orbital motion around the Sun, are basically fixed among the more distant background stars. We only notice their actual motions over a period of days. Venus, because it is much closer than Jupiter, moves much more quickly among the stars than Jupiter.
You're welcome.
Jupiter and Venus became visible within the last 10 minutes as the sky was still bright at 5:30 ET. We in Florida are much closer to the western boundary of the Eastern Time Zone than is New York. Still waiting on moonrise (still a little bright at the horizon).
I thought the cops were spying on me last night.
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