Planetary conjunction: Mars and Venus to be closest next week, with moon in tow

Planetary conjunction takes place when two planets seem to have come nearer, whereas in actuality they continue to be distant. (Image courtesy: IE through Indian Institute of Astrophysics)

Earth’s two fast neighbours Mars and Venus will come closest to one another subsequent week. The celestial occasion is named planetary conjunction. The occasion shall be simply seen with the bare eye. Planetary conjunction takes place when two planets seem to have come nearer, whereas in actuality they continue to be distant.

The most recent occasion will happen on July 13 when Venus and Mars will come inside simply 0.5 levels of one another. The phenomenon shall be seen the horizon beneath a transparent sky quickly after sundown or within the western sky. The conjunction may even embody the moon drawing shut, inside 4 levels of the 2 planets, on July 12 and create a triple conjunction.

Whereas the 2 planets on both aspect of the Earth’s orbit will look like closest on July 13, the occasion has already begun with the 2 being virtually, coupled with crescent moon. Observations from July 13 may even reveal the 2 planets shifting away from one another. This may even mark the primary of three planetary conjunctions between Venus and Mars with simply eight months. Related sights are probably on February 12 and March 12 subsequent 12 months.

The Pune-based Inter College Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Bengaluru have invited pictures of the occasion. The institutes will select the perfect of these amongst all entrants after which publish them.