In Roman mythology Venus was the daughter of Jupiter, and while Roman gods and goddesses are often at odds with one another, tonight will see Venus and Jupiter as close as they have ever been. The two brightest in the night sky will be “a jaw-dropping one third of a degree apart,” according to NASA. The unusually close encounter of the two planets will be clearly visible from Earth (weather permitting) and the planets will appear to be so close that “you’ll be able to hide the pair not just behind the palm of your outstretched hand, but behind your little pinky finger.”
Conjunctions between the two planets happen quite often, but this is the closest they will be all year. Just after sunset look west to see the event.
