3-Planet Conjunction As Jupiter, Mercury, and Venus Dance Together
Get ready tonight, May 26, 2013 as Jupiter, Mercury, and Venus create a 3-planet conjunction in the sunset sky. The three planets will gather in the fading twilight to form a bright triangle only three degrees wide.
“Triple conjunctions of planets are fairly rare,” astronomer Tony Phillips explained in a NASA observing guide. “The last time it happened was in May 2011 and it won’t happen again until October 2015.”
This event is different than the previous ones as it involves the three brightest planets in May’s night sky: no.1 is Venus; second is Jupiter; and third is Mercury. The triangle will be visible even in places with heavy urban light pollution.
The best time to look is about 30 to 60 minutes after sunset. The three planets will be hugging the horizon, so a clear view of the western sky is essential.
The triangle begins to disperse on May 27th, but even then the show is not over. On May 28th, Venus passes Jupiter at a distance of 1 degree, forming a truly spectacular pair.
From beginning to end, the three naked-eye planets will be close enough to fit inside the field of ordinary binoculars from May 23rd until early June. May 26th is just the best among many very good nights.
Step outside, face west, and observe the planets. It’s a beautiful way to end the day.
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