Venus and Jupiter, very close in the sky and spectacularly bright just after sunset

[ETL]

Just after sunset tonight, and in the weeks and months to come, look to the south west and you'll see two amazingly bright 'star-like' objects. They are the planets Venus and Jupiter. Venus is by far the brighter of the two and is directly 'below' Jupiter at this time (as we see them in the sky). By December 1st, they will be joined by the Moon, making for what the pros say will be the best easily viewed sky show of 2008 (no telescope or binoculars needed). In fact, Venus is so bright at this time that it can be mistaken for the headlight of an oncoming airplane or hovering helicopter.

Here below from the website Heavens-Above.com is a set of sky maps showing how the show will progress over the next few days. The red dot on the right is the setting sun (note where West, East, North and South are on the map). The two blue dots near the Sun are the planets Mars and Mercury, both of which are impossible to see at this time. All of the maps below represent the sky at sunset:

Tonight, Saturday, Nov 29th, 2008

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Sunday, Nov 30th, 2008

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Monday, Dec 1st, 2008

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Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

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SOURCE FOR THE SKY MAPS: HEAVENS-ABOVE.COM:
http://heavens-above.com/

NOTE: Heavens-Above.com also has visible pass schedules for the International Space Station (ISS). (once on the HA site, see "ISS"). You'll first have to register with the site and tell them your general location, so that they can provide you the proper viewing information for your particlar area.

Also see SpaceWeather.com for related and other info:
http://spaceweather.com/

[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.

[NonValueAdded]

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).

[ETL]

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.

[ETL]

Thanks for making me aware of that Web site.

You're welcome.

[NonValueAdded]

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).

[donna]

I thought the cops were spying on me last night.