Venus and Jupiter Close Encounter March 2023


Simulated view of the  planetary conjunction from mid-northern latitude on March 1 2023.



Simulated view of planets placement in their orbits in relation to Earth during the time of March conjunction.

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Conjunction Livestream from Rome, Italy via Virtual Telescope Project

Venus and Jupiter Sunset Conjunction 2023

At dusk on the first two days of March look towards the western sky for the eye-catching sight of two of the brightest planets in in a close encounter. 

Check out a series of planet specific observing guides courtesy of our partners at Celestron.

Where is Earth, Venus and Jupiter in the Solar System at the time of the Conjunction?

Simulated view of planets placement in their orbits in relation to Earth during the time of March conjunction.

On March 2, 2023 at 05:36 UTC there will be a very close conjunction between
the two brightest planets: Venus and Jupiter. The apparent distance between
the planets will be only 0.4°. For comparison, this is the approximate apparent
size of the Moon in the sky. Venus and Jupiter will be close enough that we can
see both in the same telescopic field. Apparent magnitude will be -4 for Venus
and -2 for Jupiter. The event will be visible in the evening sky, with the planets
in the constellation Pisces.

In the images below you can see the position of the two planets as seen with
the naked eye and through a telescope on the evenings of March 1 and 2
depending on the place on the globe from where the event is observed.

Illustration Credits: Valentin Grigore AWB Nat'l Coordinator for Romania 

For residents of Australia, New Zealand and Asia, the minimum distance
between the planets will be on the evening of March 2.

For European residents, the distance between the two planets will be almost
the same on both dates, March 1 and 2.

For the inhabitants of the two Americas, the minimum distance between the
planets will be on the evening of March 1.

Looking through the telescope, depending on the geographical position, all 4
Galilean satellites or only 3 of them will be visible.

On March 1, the planet Jupiter will be above the planet Venus, and on March 2,
Venus will pass overhead.

Venus and Jupiter Close Encounter and the Moon

How to Photograph this Sky Event

 

This alignment of multiple worlds in our Earth skies will also be an amazing photo opportunity that can show everyone that we all share the same sky, no matter where we live on this good planet Earth.

Even with a smartphone it is easy to snap your own souvenir photo of this eye-catching celestial event.  We invite you to share your photo with us on your Facebook, Instagram or Twitter channels by using the hashtag #onepeopleonesky and we'll make sure to share it with the world.

Quick Tips for Photographing the Planetary - Moon Alignment

1. Scout out ahead of time the ideal picturesque location to take your photo and identify where the planets and the moon will appear to be positioned from your spot

2. Identify the exact time of the sunset from your location (use timeanddate.com) 

3. Watch the weather! Remember that some of the most beautiful photos will come when it's actually not a totally       clear sky, but there are a few scattered clouds to add depth to your composition. 

4. Be patient and take plenty of photos

5.. Adjust your brightness to make the foreground dark, and if shooting away from the light, make the image brighter.

6. iPhone owners should try using HDR setting to improve exposure of your photo

7.. Use panorama mode to capture contrast and depth

8. Consider adding a subject to the photo like a buildings, trees, animals, people as clearly outlined silhouettes.



Remember to keep safe
Follow all local health regulations regarding COVID-19 when photographing in public areas.


Joshua Tree, California/2020    Photo Credit: Steven Wilcox/Unsplash

Observing Guides to the Naked-Eye Planets