Venus is visible in the eventide or dawning sky for most of the class , but this Thursday , the second planet from the sun wo n’t be alone in its smudge above the apparent horizon . AsTravel + Leisurereports , Venus , also bed as the " evening principal , " will seem mightily next to a crescent Sun Myung Moon following the sundown on February 27 , leave in a rare celestial " kiss . "
Why will Venus be close to the moon?
Venusis often among the first " stars " to become visible at evenfall ( though it ’s really a planet ) , and it ’s thebrightest objectin the nighttime sky aside from the moon . BetweenJanuary 1 and May 24 , it scramble brightly above thewestern horizon . For a few workweek in former May and tardy June , Venus is wash out by the light of the sun , and from June 13 to December 31 , it ’s loose to see in the eastern sky around sunrise .
This week , Venus will be in the pure position to share a " candy kiss " with the dark ’s bright object . All the planet , including Venus , appear to span the same path across the nighttime sky foretell the ecliptic . The lunation follows a similar trajectory , and on some nights , the celestial organic structure seems to come very close to the planets that also occupy the plane . This effect is just an illusion ; while they will come along to be intimately touching on Thursday , the moon will really be 249,892 mile from Earth on February 27 , while Venus will be 84 million miles away .
The Moon just entered its " fresh " phase on Sunday , and it will only be partially illuminated by the time it match up with Venus . The waxing crescent lunation will ascend in the gross position in the western sky on Thursday to create a joint spectacle with our terrestrial neighbor .
When to see Venus and the moon “kiss”
The buss between the moon and Venus can be pick out in the time of day after sunset on Thursday , February 27 . When you notice it induce non-white , headland outdoors and look to the southwesterly horizon if you live in the Northern Hemisphere . That will give you your good chance at catching the special event . If you miss it this week , you wo n’t have to look long for your next chance to see the Moon osculate Venus : The two soundbox will return to a similar position on March 28 , 2020 .
[ h / tTravel + Leisure ]
