Star gazers at Kathmandu : photo Gopal Chitrakar / Reuters

Environment News

What a Special night ! Jupiter, Venus, Crescent moon in one place

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 2 December, 2008 : - -  A rare positioning of planets Venus (top left) and Jupiter (top right) and the crescent moon of the Earth provided a `smiley` effect that captivated Asia Monday night Dec. 2, 2008.

Astronomers and skygazers across the world were on watch Monday night for a rare astronomical phenomenon as two of the brightest naked-eye planets, Venus and Jupiter, joined a thin crescent moon to create a brief "happy face" in the sky. On Sunday night, Venus and Jupiter appeared closest together in an event known as "Planetary Conjunction".

Crescent moon, Jupiter (bottom) &Venus over Buenos AiresPhoto: ReurtersEnrique Marcarian

Stargazers will have to wait more than 40 years for the spectacle to happen again. Jupiter, Venus, and the moon won’t get this close together again until November 2052. However, in March 2012, the two planets will meet again in another bright display.

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