From 6 p.m. Tuesday to 5 a.m. on Wednesday, stargazers will be in for a treat as Venus and Jupiter will be seen close together in a planetary conjunction. Radio dzBB reported the planetary conjunction will be the first since December 2008, when Venus, Jupiter and the crescent moon appear near to each other to form a triangle. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Venus will be together with Jupiter at 9 and 8 degrees above the western horizon respectively. "On February 16 at around 6 p.m., Venus will be found together with Jupiter at about 9 and 8 degrees above the western horizon, respectively. Venus will be shining at magnitude -3.8 and will remain low in the western horizon throughout the month," Pagasa said in its astronomical diary. For February, Pagasa said Jupiter will be about 15 degrees above the western horizon and will be shining at magnitude -2.0. It said Jupiter will lie in the constellation Aquarius, the Water Bearer and by using a modest size teles cope, it will show a diameter of 33.26 arcseconds. An arcsecond is 1/3600 of a degree. Uranus will remain glowing at magnitude +5.9 and will be located among the background stars of the constellations Pisces. Saturn will be found at about 14 degrees above the eastern horizon two hours before midnight. It will be glowing at magnitude +0.7 and will lie among the background stars of the constellation Virgo, the Virgin.Source: www.gmanews.tv/story/183999/venus-jupiter-to-be-seen-together-in-planetary-conjunction
