Watch Out for the Celestial Triangle

Watch Out for the Celestial Triangle

For the past week, early risers have enjoyed a spectacular conjunction of Venus and Jupiter in the sunrise sky. The two brightest planets in the solar system have been as close as 0.2^o, beaming with ease through city lights and the rosy glow of dawn itself. Now the twosome are becoming a threesome. As this photo from Abhinav Singhai of New Delhi shows, the crescent Moon is joining the show:

 

 

"We had a beautiful view of the three bright bodies rising over the India Gate," says Singhai.

Right now the Moon is moving closer to the planets. On the morning of August 23rd, the three will form an almost-equilateral triangle in the pre-dawn sky.

 

From SpaceWeather.com