William Atkins
Wednesday, 26 November 2008 19:37
Science -
Space
Page 1 of 2
Beginning on the evening of Thanksgiving in the United States, and Thursday night (November 27, 2008) for all others on Earth, the planets of Venus and Jupiter and a crescent-shaped Moon will be crowding around each other in a spectacular spectacle in the night sky.
So, finish up the last piece of pumpkin pie and check out the southwestern sky just after sunset on the night of Thursday, November 27, 2008.
If you are elsewhere on Earth, then you have plenty of time to see the celestial event.
In the United States, Thursday is Thanksgiving, the country’s day to celebrate the fall harvest and the “first Thanksgiving” in 1621 by the Pilgrims at Plymouth Plantation.
And, in modern times, it is really a day to stuff yourself with food and drink, and then settle down for a long day and night of football games and other such festivities.
In between all of this merry-making, check out Jupiter, Venus, and the Moon in the southwestern sky.
The Moon will be to the left of Jupiter, with Venus just slightly below the two. All of them will be within the constellation Sagittarius on December 1, 2008.
See a simulation of the positioning at WRAL.com’s “
Cover Venus and Jupiter with your thumb.”
Page two talks about further details of the three objects in the night sky.
