Mars, Jupiter's closest encounter in three days: How to watch
Mars and Jupiter are set for their closest encounter of the decade, a celestial event that will be visible from Earth. On Wednesday, the two planets will appear so close together in our night sky that only a thin crescent Moon could fit between them. Despite this apparent proximity, they will actually be over 575 million kilometers apart in their respective orbits.
Planetary conjunction: A rare celestial event
The minimum separation between Mars and Jupiter is expected to occur during daylight hours on Wednesday across most parts of the US, Europe, and Africa. Jon Giorgini from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, has stated that there won't be much difference in their appearance a few hours or even a day earlier when the sky is dark.
Best views and scientific significance
The most optimal views of this planetary conjunction will be in the eastern sky toward the constellation Taurus before daybreak. These cosmic pairings, known as planetary conjunctions, occur approximately every three years. Giorgini described these events as "mostly items of curiosity and beauty for those watching the sky," adding that "the science is in the ability to accurately predict the events years in advance."
Past and future convergences of Mars and Jupiter
The last time Mars and Jupiter were this close was in 2018. The next time they will get even closer won't be until 2033. The closest convergence of these two planets in the past millennium occurred in 1761, when Mars and Jupiter appeared as a single bright object to the naked eye. Looking forward, Mars and Jupiter will come almost as close again in 2348.
