Venus and Jupiter Appear Close in Evening Sky Through Mid-June

Venus and Jupiter appeared 1.6 degrees apart in the western sky after sunset on June 9. The two planets will stay within about five degrees of each other through June 14.

The best viewing time is roughly 45 minutes after sunset, when both planets are visible before setting about an hour later. Mercury is also low in the western sky, creating a three-planet display for observers with clear horizons. A slender waxing crescent moon will join Venus and Jupiter on June 16-17.

The apparent closeness results from the planets' orbits around the sun. Venus and Jupiter remain hundreds of millions of miles apart in space but line up from Earth's perspective along the ecliptic. Such pairings occur every one to two years. The next Venus-Jupiter conjunction is scheduled for August 26, 2027.

An occultation in which Venus passes directly in front of Jupiter from Earth's viewpoint is set for November 22, 2065, the only such event of the 21st century.