The cosmic kiss of Jupiter and Venus is a beautiful astronomical event that occurs when these two planets appear to come very close to each other in the sky, creating a stunning visual display. While they may appear to be physically close, they are actually millions of miles apart in space.
The cosmic kiss is a conjunction, which means that the two planets are aligned with each other in the sky. This alignment occurs when the faster-moving planet, Venus, catches up to and passes by the slower-moving planet, Jupiter. The exact distance between the two planets during a conjunction can vary, with some conjunctions appearing closer than others.
Conjunctions between Jupiter and Venus happen fairly frequently, but the cosmic kiss is a special event that occurs only once every several years. When it does happen, it’s often visible to the naked eye and can be seen from many locations around the world.
Cosmic Kiss of Jupiter and Venus Time
NASA said Jupiter and Venus will be visible around 18:58 ET, as evening twilight ends over the US East Coast.
Similar times in the UK will provide the best opportunity to catch a glimpse of the spectacle.
The only obstacle may be cloud cover, as dark skies are clearly the best way to see the event.
Unfortunately, cloud cover is expected over much of the UK from 19:00 GMT this evening, although the south west of England and the west of Wales should have relatively clear skies to be able to see the conjunction.
With the help of telescopes, viewers will also be able to see the four brightest moons of Jupiter.
After our own Moon, Jupiter and Venus are currently the brightest objects in the sky, according to Gianluca Masi, an astronomer at the Bellatrix Astronomical Observatory in Italy and head of the Virtual Telescope Project.
He is hosting a live feed from 18:30 GMT (13:30 ET) to view the ‘kiss between Venus and Jupiter’ for those who cannot see it in person
One notable cosmic kiss occurred on March 03, 2023, when Jupiter and Venus appeared to be only 0.1 degrees apart in the sky. This was the closest conjunction between the two planets in over a decade and provided a stunning display for stargazers.
Overall, the cosmic kiss of Jupiter and Venus is a beautiful reminder of the vastness and complexity of our universe, as well as the amazing celestial events that can occur right before our eyes.
