Jupiter separates from Venus

Event Date: April 19th

Time: 8:00 PM

Brief

   Venus has been setting slightly later each evening for the last several months, as it (1) separated itself from the Sun and (2) the Sun has set later each evening since early December.  If you are big fan of seeing Venus high enough in the sky during twilight and still visible above the horizon shining very brightly after dark, April is the last good month to see both well.

Detailed

Although Venus is past greatest elongation, it has continued to gain northern declination, as it will until May 4th.  By then, at almost 28º, it will be the most north we see Venus for quite some time.  It is almost as far north as the Moon ever gets as well, because of the precession of its [orbit] nodes.  As a result of Venus being these extra degrees north, it still doesn't set until 3 hours, 49 minutes after the Sun, at 11:19 PM.  Despite this, we only see Venus easily above the horizon until about 10:30 in locations with lots of horizon obstruction, and 11:00 if minimal obstruction.  As a reminder, using the celestial grid in the image, Venus curves towards the horizon more gradually as it reaches it, in comparison to when it sets closer to the celestial equator.  Jupiter, about 10º less north follows a similar path, although the curve is slightly sharper.  Notice with the celestial equator itself, the angle with the horizon shown further to the left, is more angular and not so curvy, compared with the line closest to Venus.

*click on image to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

   Finally, remember the March 13th, close encounter of Venus and Jupiter?  It happened shortly before I started this blog, although if you follow astronomy regularly with a clear sky in your area, there is no way that it could be missed.  In any case, while soon reach conjunction, Jupiter is now 26.5º separated with Venus; more than 10-fold than they were when they were 3º apart on that aforementioned March date.