Venus, Jupiter and the Moon do a Planet Dance (20-30 June 2015)

If you turn your eyes to the western even skies in the twilight over the next few nights you will be in for a treat. The two brightest planets in the sky, Jupiter and Venus, have been putting on a nice display as they have been steadily drawing together. But now it gets better.

Over the next few days the crescent Moon joins the pair, most spectacularly on the 20th when the Moon, Jupiter and Venus form a triangle, but the days after still pretty good as the Moon, Jupiter Venus and Regulus form a line.

After this, as the Moon pulls away, Jupiter and Venus come closer, being spectacularly closer on the 30th June to 2 July, when they can be covered with an outstretched finger and will fit comfortably in a low power telescope field. On the 1st, they will fit in a medium power telescope field, where the crescent Venus and banded Jupiter will be obvious.

Telescopic view of Jupiter and Venus on 1 July, simulated for a 6″ Newtonian with a 10 mm eyepiece. (click to embiggen)

Venus and Jupiter are readily visible (and very obvious)  in the north west from half an hour after sunset to around 8 pm local time Australia wide, setting around 8:30 pm.