SAASST News

Thursday, 09 March 2023 16:22

SAASST Observation of Venus-Jupiter Conjunction

The Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology organized a public astronomy night observation for the special occasion of the Venus-Jupiter conjunction of Mar. 02, 2023.

This unique event will again happen after 32 years. The closest approach of the two planets was 0.5 degrees at 08:15 UAE Time. But it was morning; it was not visible. After sunset, the two planets were slightly far apart but close enough for people to appreciate this beautiful setting. Venus is the closest planet to Earth, and it is sometimes called the evening star because it is the first to appear after sunset before any other star due to its high brightness. Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system, and you can lay down 11 planet Earth along its diameter. Through the telescope, you can really appreciate the four Galilean Moons of Jupiter and sometimes the waxing or waning phase of Venus, which proved to be a decisive observation made by Galileo to prove that the Sun is at the center of the solar system.