{"id":46564,"date":"2023-06-20T11:35:07","date_gmt":"2023-06-20T11:35:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/?p=119540"},"modified":"2023-06-20T12:32:29","modified_gmt":"2023-06-20T12:32:29","slug":"see-mars-venus-and-a-crescent-moon-together-on-the-summer-solstice","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/see-mars-venus-and-a-crescent-moon-together-on-the-summer-solstice\/","title":{"rendered":"See Mars, Venus and a crescent Moon together on the summer solstice"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mars, Venus and the Moon will be visible together during 21, 22 June and 29 June \u2013 2 July. <\/p>

By Pete Lawrence\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 20 June 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

The encounter between Mars and the Beehive, followed by Venus and the Beehive<\/a> that we witnessed in early June 2023 suggests that both planets are in the same part of the sky after sunset.<\/p>\n

Shining at mag. \u20134.3, Venus<\/a> reached greatest eastern elongation on 4 June, but despite its prominence in the evening sky over the past weeks, it is dropping in altitude after sunset.<\/p>\n

At that brightness it\u2019s still easy to see, though, and a good pointer to the much dimmer planet Mars<\/a>, which shines at mag. +1.7 towards the end of June.<\/p>\n

For more astronomy advice, sign up to receive the BBC Sky at Night Magazine e-newsletter<\/a> and listen to our weekly Star Diary podcast<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\""A\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
A low-altitude meeting between bright Venus, harder-to-see Mars and a waxing crescent Moon takes place over two evenings around the summer solstice. View looking west-northwest at around 23:30 BST (22:30 UT). Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

On the evening of 21 June<\/strong>, Venus and Mars will be joined by a slender 12%-lit waxing crescent Moon<\/a>, a lovely evening scene to mark the day of the June solstice<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On 22 June<\/strong>, the Moon will have increased in phase to 19% and sits further to the east of both planets.<\/p>\n

Venus and Mars will appear slightly closer on this date, appearing separated by 4.5\u00b0 on 21 June<\/strong> and 4.3\u00b0 on 22 June<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Both planets continue to approach one another to reach a minimum separation of 3.6\u00b0 between 29 June<\/strong> and 2 July<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This makes them an ideal binocular target, but a flat west-northwest horizon is essential.<\/p>\n

Look out for Regulus<\/a> (Alpha (\u03b1<\/span>) Leonis) to the left of Mars, appearing fractionally brighter than the planet at mag. +1.3.<\/p>\n

This guide originally appeared in the June 2023 issue of <\/strong><\/em>BBC Sky at Night Magazine<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

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