Astronomy Picture of the Day - Venus and Mars: Passing in the Night

APOD.NASA.gov ^ | 29 Mar, 2022 | Image Credit & Copyright: Carlos Kiko Fairbairn

[MtnClimber]

Explanation: When two planets pass on the night sky, they can usually be seen near each other for a week or more. In the case of this planetary conjunction, Venus and Mars passed within 4 degrees of each other earlier this month. The featured image was taken a few days prior, when Venus was slowing rising in the pre-dawn sky, night by night, while Mars was slowly setting. The image, a four-part mosaic, was captured in Brazil from the small town Teresópolis. Besides Venus and Mars, the morning sky now also includes the more distant planet Saturn. Of course, these conjunctions are only angular -- Venus, Mars, and Saturn continue to orbit the Sun in very different parts of our Solar System. Next week, the angle between Saturn and Mars will drop to below a quarter of a degree.

[MtnClimber]

To be added or removed from the Astronomy Picture of the Day ping list please send me a request via "Private Reply" (Mail).

For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

[MtnClimber]

[MtnClimber]

Pinging the APOD list.

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

[momtothree]

What an unbelievably peaceful scene! Love it!!

[major_gaff]

and not a bad album either...

[KarlInOhio]

In the case of this planetary conjunction, Venus and Mars passed within 4 degrees of each other earlier this month. The featured image was taken a few days prior, when Venus was slowing rising in the pre-dawn sky, night by night, while Mars was slowly setting

Huh? Since they are near each other (a conjunction, as mentioned above) they will both be rising in the predawn east. Mars cannot be setting in the east.

[DannyTN]

Strangers in the night
Exchanging glances
Wandering in the night
What were the chances
We’d be sharing love
Before the night was through?
Something in your eyes
Was so inviting
Something in your smile
Was so exciting
Something in my heart told me I must have you

[BitWielder1]

Right. Mars, Saturn and Venus are close in the sky right now, all rising together in the predawn hours.
And setting in the afternoon while the sun is still up.

[DannyTN]

[MtnClimber]

Paul McCartney & Wings Venus and Mars Extended Version

[MtnClimber]

I was searching for the same thing when you posted!

[DannyTN]

I haven't heard that song in a long time.

Paul McCartney & Wings Venus and Mars Extended Version

[major_gaff]

Great minds...lol