On Saturday, Venus will pass between the Earth and the sun in what is known as an inferior conjunction. This celestial event, however, is difficult to observe without specialized equipment and expert guidance.
Michelle Nichols from Chicago’s Adler Planetarium explained, “The glare from the sun makes it really, really difficult to see.”
An inferior conjunction occurs when two celestial bodies, such as two planets or a planet and the sun, appear close together in the sky. Venus experiences an inferior conjunction with the sun approximately every 19 months due to the orbits of Venus and Earth around the sun. This particular alignment is expected to occur around 9 p.m. EDT.
Astronomer Geary Albright from James Madison University described the event as a “Venus kiss” due to the close proximity of the two planets during the conjunction.
Venus exhibits phases similar to the moon, appearing as a thin crescent before and after the conjunction. These phases are visible only through telescopes. Observers can track Venus’ transition from the evening to the morning sky on Sunday.
Leading up to the conjunction, viewers can search for Venus near the horizon just after sunset in a flat area. Venus shines as one of the brightest objects in the sky during this time.
Following the conjunction, Venus will be visible in the morning sky just before sunrise. It is important to avoid looking directly at the sun while observing Venus.
Although the event may not be visually spectacular, scientists emphasize its significance in monitoring planetary movements in space.
Nichols encouraged people to take this opportunity to learn more about Venus. The song “The Kiss of Venus” by Paul McCartney was inspired by a book chapter detailing the inferior conjunction. Additionally, upcoming NASA missions will focus on studying Venus to understand its formation and the differences between Venus and Earth.
By Adithi Ramakrishnan
