Earth’s two neighbors will appear very close in the sky on August 14, as the orbits of Mars and Jupiter make them appear nearly touching.
Conjunction is an astronomical term that refers to a situation when two or more celestial bodies in space are close to each other relative to Earth’s perspective. Although these objects appear to be close to each other, they may still be millions or even trillions of miles away from each other. In the case of a conjunction between Mars and Jupiter, the closest distance between the two planets would be more than 300 million miles (500 million kilometers).
According to EarthSky , after the conjunction, Mars will begin to slowly rise higher in the sky from our perspective on Earth, while Jupiter will also move upward, but faster, eventually moving away from the night sky.
The pair will begin their celestial conjunction around 10:30 p.m. on August 13, but the best viewing time from the East Coast will be a few hours before sunrise the next day. As always, both planets are visible to the naked eye. Jupiter will be the brighter of the pair, contrasting with Mars’ signature red color. With a decent pair of binoculars, Jupiter’s moons may be visible, and to telescope owners the two planets will be visible in the same view.
To catch a glimpse of the conjunction, look to the eastern sky. The planetary alignment will appear in front of the constellation Taurus near Aldebaran. Sky-watching apps, such as Sky Guide and StarMap 3D+, can also help you find the pair in the night sky.
Mars-Jupiter conjunctions are not uncommon and occur approximately every 26 to 27 months. This pair of planets last met in 2022. Mars and Jupiter won’t be this close again until December 1, 2033, according to Space.com.
Mitzi Adams, an astronomer and researcher at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, said in an article: “Traditionally, planetary conjunctions have been more astrological than serious astronomy, but they are observed in the process. Always impressive, especially when it comes to gas giants.
If you can’t see this conjunction with your own eyes, don’t worry. The Virtual Telescope Project is live streaming this event.
