Jupiter and Venus will seem to nearly collide in rare celestial spectacle

This weekend, Jupiter and Venus, two of the solar system's bright planets, will appear to almost touch.

Although they are millions of miles apart, stargazers on Earth can see that they are close enough to occur once a year.

Jupiter and Venus will be much closer together this year and should be visible with a pair of binoculars or the naked eye. You will have to wait another 17 years for a repeat performance if you miss it.

The planets will appear to be in a straight line, as well as the extraordinary planetary conjunction on display.

Brad Tucker, an astronomer at the Australian National University, said the planets had been moving closer together.

Although Venus and Jupiter get close to one another every few years, this time there is also Mars and Saturn in the mix which is pretty rare.

If you have a telescope, a pair of binoculars or a decent camera, you will get a better view.

The planets are close in appearance, but they are not.

The best time to view the event in the UK was at 5am on Saturday, when there was a clear eastern horizon. It will be visible on Sunday and the days that follow as the planets move apart again.

It will be hard to see from London, but the planets will appear closer to you.

The pair of planets will rise in the east at 3.30am on 1 May and will be seen by observers in Australia.

Space scientist and chief stargazer at the Society for Popular Astronomy Prof Green said that the planets will differ in their brightness.

Venus is brighter than Jupiter so it will look great when you see it. Jupiter will be less bright than Venus.

During the early morning hours of 13 May, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, and Mars came together in a formation not likely to be seen again until 2040.