Venus is very bright right now and easy to see at about 40 minutes after sunset. It’s sitting low in the northwestern sky. If you could see it through a microscope, it’s currently in waning Venus gibbous phase. Depending on Venus’s position in relation to the sun, it reflects varying amounts of light. As Venus makes its transit in front of our sun, it will eventually become a “morning star,” appearing on the eastern side of the sun.
Jupiter is presently four or five fists above Venus and a little to the left. Jupiter is also bright right now. We don’t see crescent phases with Jupiter, because it’s an outer planet. It’s impossible for it to be between us and the sun. Over the next few months, Jupiter and Venus will move closer together in the nighttime sky. On June 9th, they will meet. Bob says it will be a “spectacular conjunction,” so astronomers should be aware of that upcoming celestial event.
Another full moon is approaching, and this will be traditionally known as a “full flower moon.” On May 1st, you will see it rise about 40 minutes after sunset, at 8:52 pm, in the southeast.
Tonight, and tomorrow, it should be clear skies. If you turn around and face in the opposite direction of Venus and Jupiter, you will see the Big Dipper. If you follow the curvature of the handle downward, you will see the star Arcturus which is the fourth brightest star in the nighttime sky. Arcturus is a red giant and about 25 times the size of the sun. It is an ancient star, about 7 billion years old. At one time, long ago, it was the same size as our sun! And likewise, the sun will be about the size of Arcturus 4 to 5 billion years from now.
Bob King is an author, educator and amateur astronomer. You can hear Astro Bob's Backyard Astronomy every other Tuesday at 8:20am on Northland Morning.
