Jupiter and Venus Light Up the Sky

First posted on 11-21-2008

If you have noticed two very bright stars in the southwest sky after sunset, you are actually looking at two planets - Jupiter and Venus. It is the best pairing of these two planets until 2012.

Reflecting 65 percent of the sunlight that reaches its surface, Venus is now the brightest star-like object in the sky.

Just after sunset, look to the left of the setting sun. Venus will appear as a very bright star low in the sky. Jupiter will be a little fainter and a bit higher up in the sky. Don’t wait too long after sunset to search for these planets as they will both set before mid-evening.

The two planets will brighten the sky throughout November and Venus will appear to close the gap in its relationship to Jupiter. Right now, the planets will be about 10 degrees apart, about the width of your fist held at an arm’s length away from your eye. But by the end of the month, only two degrees will separate them. That’s only about a finger’s width.