Pre-dawn observers will spot a pretty neat sight in the East starting on Friday, 11/10/17. Venus and Jupiter are very close to one another and will be less than a degree apart - or in conjunction - 45 minutes before dawn on 11/13. Venus is the brighter of the two planets.
To see the planetary pair observers will need a very clear horizon to the East as the planets will only be a scant 5 degrees - 3 fingers held together at arm's distance - above the horizon. Binoculars will help in the view and it may even be possible to see the 4 main moons of Jupiter with 7x50 binoculars. The view in a telescope with a low power eyepiece will show both planets and Jupiter's moons easily.
Observers can watch the two get closer together and then separate which is always neat to do. The slim Crescent Moon will be joining them on the 16th and 17th.
The day to day movement in the sky of these celestial objects is due to their own orbits around the Sun, including the Earth's, and the Moon's orbit around the Earth. Venus is 246 million km (14 light minutes) distant while Jupiter is 957 million km (53 light minutes distant.
I will be trying for pics and will share if I get any worthwhile.
Clear skies!
Sky Guy in VA
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