BANGALORE/CHENNAI: Owing to a phenomena called conjunction two planets Venus and Jupiter appeared close to each other in the western sky on Wednesday. In reality the two planets - Venus and Jupiter - are more than 450 million km apart. However, on this day, from Earth they seemed to be next to each other.Scientist at the Department of Science and Technology of New Delhi, T V Venkateswaran, said this phenomenon occurs when the planets in their orbits are on the opposite side of the Sun.
Gradually they come in a straight line with the Earth. “As they are on the opposite side of the Sun they tend to look even brighter. They will be in the current position throughout this week,” he said adding that the two planets appeared less than three degrees from each other on Wednesday.
In May 2013, the planets would again appear close to each other. The planets can be viewed with the naked eye. “It is an incredible sight. During the last sighting, the two planets formed a triangular shape with the moon, which was much better to look at. When you first spot them, you know the direction of other stars/planets,” said Subramanian, a member of the Association of Bangalore Amateur Astronomers. He added the four satellites of Jupiter could be seen through a telescope.