Nice as it is, the Mars-Saturn-Antares lineup is only the warm-up for the big event: the closest conjunction of the two brightest planets this year. On Saturday evening, August 27, Venus and Jupiter will approach within a hair’s breadth of each other as viewed with the naked eye - only 0.1° will separate the two gems. 24), but they’ll be below the horizon at that time for the Americas and Europe. Credit: Stellarium The moment of conjunction between Mars and Saturn occurs at 11:00 UT (7 a.m.

The two planets and star form a compact gathering that’s sure to grab your attention. This will be the scene facing southwest at nightfall from the central U.S. To catch them perfectly lined up, you’ll have to be in central Asia on the following evening, but the view should be pleasing no matter where you live. Viewed from the Americas and Europe, the line will appear slightly bent. Mars will sit just 1.5° above the star and Saturn 4° above Mars. On Tuesday night (August 23) the hopscotching duo will fall in line atop Antares in the southwestern sky at nightfall. This week, get ready for some celestial shimmer. If you’ve been following the hither and thither of Mars and Saturn near Antares this summer, you know these planets have been constantly on the move, creating all kinds of cool alignments in the southern sky. Credit: Bob KingĬonjunctions of bright planets make for jewelry in the sky. It will with Saturn at +0.4 and Antares at +1.0. Mars is still the brightest of the bunch at magnitude –0.5. Saturn, Mars and Antares are shown on Sunday night August 21 two nights before their lineup.

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