Heads up! On the night of July 13, 2021, a spectacular astronomical event is about to happen! The planets Mars and Venus will be closest to each other in an event called a planetary conjunction.
What is a conjunction? A conjunction is an event where two objects in the Solar System can be seen and observed ‘close to one another’ from the point of view here on Earth.
For the upcoming conjunction, Mars and Venus will be observed on sharing the same right ascension. Since two planets are involved in this event, it is referred to as a planetary conjunction.
The exact date and time for the upcoming conjunction is July 13, 2021, 7:36 UTC. It is expected that the two planets will be 0.5° or 1/2° away from each other. This means that if you have binoculars or a telescope, you would be able to see Venus and Mars at the same time in one field of view.
Here’s how it would look like on a FirstScope and 20mm eyepiece:
Don’t have any equipment? Don’t worry! Mars and Venus are both bright planets and are visible to the naked eye. Locate the conjunction using your phone and Stellarium Mobile!
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We hope you have clear skies during this event and on your observation nights!
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