Moon, Venus come together in sky tomorrow: How to watch
What's the story
A notable celestial event will be on display early tomorrow morning, when the Moon and Venus come together in a stunning conjunction. The event is set to take place just before dawn, making it an ideal opportunity for stargazers to witness this beautiful cosmic dance. The best time to catch a glimpse of this celestial spectacle would be around 60-75 minutes before sunrise.
Visibility tips
Where and how to see the Moon-Venus conjunction
To witness this event, head to an open space with an unobstructed view of the eastern horizon. Look for a thin crescent Moon, which will be just 4% illuminated, and Venus shining brightly nearby. The two objects will appear close together in the sky but are actually separated by vast distances: while our lunar neighbor is about 397,507km away from Earth, Venus is nearly 600 times farther at around 147 million miles away.
Astronomical highlights
Venus shines at magnitude -3.9
October is a month of celestial wonders, with the Moon and Venus putting on a spectacular show. Venus, the brightest planet in our solar system after the Sun and Moon, is currently shining at magnitude -3.9. However, despite its brightness, it doesn't look great through telescopes as it only shows a small disk that isn't very interesting for observers.
Historical perspective
Celestial events and ancient deities
The conjunction of Moon and Venus is a beautiful sight for modern stargazers, but it may have held more significance for ancient skywatchers. They might have associated such celestial events with their deities, given that both Moon and planets were thought to possess god-like qualities.