Skywatchers who take in the sunset view have the chance to see Venus, the moon and Saturn line up in the evening sky tonight (Nov. 8, 2018).
You can see the waxing moon just to the right of Venus if you look at the southwestern sky 30 minutes after sunset. The bright planet and moon will form a line that runs east to Jupiter and Saturn. The whole scene can be viewed without any equipment. However, binoculars will help you see some moon craters. Venus is completely covered by clouds so you won't see any more features. The moon is currently in its waxing phase and will soon reach a full moon on November 19.
NASA stated that the meeting between the celestial bodies would be "really beautiful," and recommended that people not miss it. Because they are both on the ecliptic (the plane upon which the sun, planets and moons of the solar system orbit), the two worlds are flying close together in Earth's skies. This means that you will often see the moon passing by the planets throughout the year.
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Image 1 of 4. The crescent moon will shine alongside a bright Venus and the bright planets Jupiter, Saturn and Saturn in a diagonal-shaped line on Nov. 8, as shown in this NASA sky map showing the southern night sky. (Image credit NASA/JPL–Caltech. Image 2 of 4. By Nov. 9, Venus will be higher up than Saturn, and Venus will be farther away. Image 3 of 4. On Nov. 10, Jupiter and Saturn will pass under the moon. Venus can still be seen low above the horizon. (Image credit NASA/JPL–Caltech. Image 4 of 4. And the moon will pass by Jupiter on Nov. 11 after passing by all the bright planets in southwestern skies. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
Are you able to see Venus and the Moon? Let us know if you took a photo of Venus or the moon! You can send images and comments in to spacephotos@space.com.
You can find the best deals on telescopes and binoculars for viewing the planets in the night skies by visiting our guide. To ensure you are ready for your next planet sighting, check out our top astrophotography cameras and best lenses.
As November goes on, Venus and the moon will continue to have more fun. As Venus moves higher up in the sky, it will be more visible than ever before the month ends.
EarthSky stated that the view is improved because the evening angle of Venus's ecliptic shifts upward as Earth revolves around the sun. "The effect is for Venus to be carried higher in the west after sunset."
The moon will experience a partial lunar eclipse when it enters the shadow of Earth on Nov. 19. The eclipse will reach its peak at 4:02 AM EST (902 GMT). It will be visible for six hours from North and South America, Australia and other parts of Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit our guide to lunar Eclipses.
You can see the next total lunar eclipse from North America, Europe, Africa and Asia on May 15-16 2022.
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