The two planets in the solar system, Venus and Jupiter, are closest since 2015.
The Gwacheon National Science Museum announced on the 18th that it would hold a special observation meeting near Venus and Jupiter for two days from April 30 to May 1 in collaboration with the National Astronomical Observatory in Yanggu-gun.
The orbital periods of Venus and Jupiter are 7.5 months and 11.9 years, respectively. Due to the difference in orbital period, the two planets come closer in the night sky we see regarding every three years and three months. This close is the closest since July 1, 2015, with the next one on August 12, 2025.
The orbits of the two planets have different inclinations, so even if they approach each other, they do not overlap. However, with the naked eye, the two planets are expected to appear almost adjacent to each other.
For observing the proximity of Venus and Jupiter, it is good to have an open eastern sky. Without special equipment, it can be difficult to distinguish between Venus and Jupiter. Venus and Jupiter can be distinguished with binoculars, and the four major moons of Jupiter (Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto) and Venus can be observed with a general astronomical telescope. If you lower the magnification of the telescope, you can see Venus, Jupiter and its moons all at once in one view of the telescope.
Gwacheon National Science Museum and National Astronomical Observatory will present various programs at special observation meetings. First, on the evening of the 30th of this month, Park Dae-young, head of the Astronomy and Space Team at the Gwacheon National Science Museum, will give a lecture on the secret of shooting the Milky Way. Observe the representative celestial bodies in spring with the 80mm main telescope and auxiliary telescope of the National Land Observatory, and hand out small telescopes to campers to give them the opportunity to observe freely.
At dawn the next day, time is given to observe and photograph the Milky Way. At around 5 a.m., Venus and Jupiter can be seen very close together.
Dr. Jo Jae-il of Gwacheon National Science Museum said, “I hope that the close observation of the Milky Way and Venus and Jupiter will provide a little healing time.”
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