fthe wait for one of the most spectacular astronomical events of the year. Tonight around 7pm, just before sunset, it will finally be possible to see, above all with the naked eyewhat was renamed by scientists now several years ago, the “kiss” between Venus and Jupiter.
The kiss between Venus and Jupiter
The two brightest planets in the Solar System will be at the minimum angular distance tomorrow, Thursday 2 March, but the particular astronomical coincidence will also be visible tonight.
This conjunction can occur both between planets and between planets and stars, or between stars and between stars and galaxies. However, it does not necessarily mean that the celestial bodies are physically close to each other, but only that our perception from the Earth makes them appear so to us.
Tonight the Venus-Jupiter “kiss”, one of the most spectacular events of the year and visible to the naked eye. (Getty Images)
Never so close, but between them 670 million kilometers
In particular, on the first evening Venus will still be just lower than Jupiter on the western horizon, while the following the “overtaking” will already be accomplished and the positions will reverse, with Venus above the gas giant. They will be the first lights we will see when the sun goes down”.
It’s called a kiss precisely because, visually speaking, the two planets will be very close to each other, even if in in reality there are about 670 million kilometers that separate them.
The kiss between Venus and Jupiter, how to recognize the two planets
Recognizing them will be very easy: in fact, Venus is the brightest planet, with a bluish color, while Jupiter is smaller and with an orange hue.
With the help of a telescope or binoculars, they can be clearly distinguished and it will also be possible to see the four main satellites of Jupiter: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.
If the weather doesn’t allow it, the show will also be streamed from the Virtual Telescope, but clearly the hope is to be able not to miss this live opportunity.
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