Jupiter, Venus, Moon Converge in Rare Reunion

Spectacular planetary 'huddle' to start tonight

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 27, 2008 12:25 PM CST

(Newser) – Americans looking at the night sky this weekend will be able to see the three brightest celestial bodies come together for a Thanksgiving reunion, the AP reports. Jupiter and Venus will move closer and appear to be just a finger's width apart by Sunday. By Monday, the crescent moon will appear right next to them, forming a triangle of light not to be seen again until 2052.

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Jupiter, Venus, and the moon will appear closer together this weekend than they will for another 44 years. (Shutter Stock)

The convergence of Venus and Jupiter will be joined by a crescent moon Monday night. (©emrank)

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A guide to what to look out for in the night sky this week. (SkyThisWeek)

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It'll be a head-turner. This certainly is an unusual coincidence for the crescent moon to be right there in the days when they are going to be closest together. - Alan MacRobert, senior editor at Sky and Telescope magazine

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Jupiter, Venus, Moon Converge in Rare Reunion