Last night, as I stepped outside after dinner to take care of Mr.Chicky, I was greeted with a sight that literally took my breath away.
Jupiter and Venus Conjunction
In the sky above me were two dazzlingly bright objects, shining close together like stars. It was a beautiful, extraordinary sight, and I felt a tingle of joy and a moment of calmness over me. This feeling is what psychologists refer to as awe, an emotion that can relieve stress and calm nerves. Who doesn't need that?
Little did I know that the experience I had last night was just a preview of what was to come tonight. As the sun sets, my entire family and I are going to step outside to witness the conjunction of two planets - Venus and Jupiter. According to Jackie Faherty, an astronomer at the American Museum of Natural History, these two bright objects have been coming closer and closer every night, leading up to tonight's even more spectacular show.
As an astronomer, Faherty is quick to point out that the planets aren't really going to smooch, despite appearing close to each other from our earthly vantage point. In reality, they are more than 400 million miles apart, which is over four times the distance between Earth and the sun. What's happening is a Venus-Jupiter "conjunction," where Venus is passing Jupiter as they both orbit the sun. Faherty explains that the inner planets move much faster than the outer planets, creating a lot of these "racetrack passes."
During this particular conjunction, the two planets will appear to be separated by just half a degree from our viewpoint on Earth. To put this into perspective, that's about the width of a pencil eraser held up at arm's length. So, if you step outside and look toward the sunset, you'll see two bright lights in the sky, with Venus shining brighter and to the right, and Jupiter to the left.
Diana Hannikainen, an editor at Sky & Telescope magazine, assures us that there's no way we'll miss this beautiful event. But as we gaze up at the sky, Hannikainen encourages us to try something new - to pause for a moment and focus on the extraordinary universe around us. She reminds us of the mystery and distance of the planets, and how small we are in comparison.
Psychologist Michelle Shiota at Arizona State University explains that this feeling of awe can be humbling and can give us perspective. When we take a moment to appreciate the vastness of the universe, it can help us calm down and gain a sense of peace and clarity.
Conclusion:
If you happen to miss tonight's event, don't worry. The two planets will still seem quite close on Thursday night, continuing their celestial dance. But as quickly as they've come together, they'll soon drift back to their original positions, reminding us of the fleeting and transitory nature of all things in the universe. So, take a moment to step outside and appreciate the awe inspiring beauty of the cosmos.
Keypoints:
1. I experienced a feeling of awe after seeing two bright objects in the sky, which turned out to be Venus and Jupiter
2. Venus and Jupiter are coming closer and closer to each other, creating a Venus-Jupiter "conjunction"
3. The planets are actually 400 million miles apart, and the inner planets move faster than the outer planets
4. The conjunction will be visible in the western sky after sunset, and the two planets will be separated by about half a degree
5. Gazing up at the sky and appreciating the vastness of the universe can evoke a feeling of awe, which can be humbling and calming
6. If the conjunction is missed, the two planets will still appear close on Thursday night before drifting back to their original positions
