Anika Begay
This story originally appeared on WIRED in Spanish and it was translated from Spanish.
August has brought many spectacular displays in the night sky: a supermoon, meteor showers, and supercharged auroras. Mars and Jupiter are also appearing unusually close in the night sky, in what is known as a conjunction. They appeared closest during the early morning of August 14 and are now gradually moving apart, and will not be this close in the sky again until 2033.
But while they’re still close, they’ll be joined by a third player, the moon, later this month on August 27, producing a rare triple conjunction of the three closely spaced bodies. The moon will be in its waxing phase, and according to the constellation-tracking app Star Walk, it will be 40 percent illuminated. This dimming will make it possible to see the red dot of Mars and the larger star Jupiter next to it.
You don’t need a telescope or binoculars to enjoy the conjunction, although it is essential to be in a place away from light pollution. Photographers with experience in observing astronomical events recommend going to a high place to observe the phenomenon, such as a mountain or the roof of a house, but if you do, make sure you are well sheltered and protected from the cold.
NASA indicates that the triangle between the Moon, Mars, and Jupiter will be visible in the west, an hour before sunrise. If an observer uses advanced observation instruments, they will also be able to see the red giant stars Aldebaran above the triangle and Betelgeuse below in the northern hemisphere.
Distinguish between planets and stars
Although they may appear similar in the sky, planets and stars do not behave the same way. Stars maintain a fixed position that changes only with the season of the year. Planets, on the other hand, move throughout the night along a line known as the ecliptic. Stars also twinkle or appear to vary in brightness, while planets maintain a constant brightness.
Only five planets can be seen with the naked eye from Earth: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and Mercury. Each body appears regularly in the sky, but because they move at different speeds and their distance from Earth varies, they have unique behaviors at night. For example, Mercury and Venus can only be seen at sunset or sunrise, while Mars or Jupiter shine all night.
