Worlds meet in the sky

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To the eye, Jupiter, Venus near

Sunday, April 19, 1998

BY PHILLIP PINA
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Stargazers will get a special treat the next few days as the two brightest planets will appear to touch.

By Wednesday, Jupiter and Venus will appear within 0.5 degrees of each other in the early morning sky. On Thursday, they will appear to be cradled by the crescent moon.

A degree is about the width of a finger held at arm's length.

"It makes for a very unique and beautiful sight," said Frank Mercurio, resident astronomer at Norwood's Drake Planetarium. The phenomenon, called a conjunction, will be visible to the naked eye.

The last time the two planets appeared so close was in 1992, Mr. Mercurio said, and the alignment won't happen again until February. The best time for viewing is about an hour before sunrise Wednesday and Thursday. Stargazers should look into the low east-southeast sky, or about where the sun will rise.

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Local Headlines For Sunday, April 19, 1998

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Worlds meet in the sky
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