Event Date: November 11th
Time: 5:15 AM
Brief
If I told you that Venus and a 4th magnitude star were currently 1.3º apart, shown at the time above, you probably would shrug it off, and think little of it; the same for if the star was 3rd or 2nd magnitude. However, over the next 24 hours, we have a very fun scenario to look forward to: Venus and that same star, Theta Virginis, will have an impressive encounter: one that we have not observed of a star this "bright" in quite some time, with a planet. Here is the the showing of the two now this morning before dawn, with an old, crescent Moon nearby them. The Moon's phase is important to note, since it is close enough to "sliver" stage to not wash out the star.
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click on image to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.
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Detailed
The ecliptic latitude of Theta Virginis is a little more than 1.7º, and Venus is very close to the same. Since Venus' orbit can "swing" it about 8º on either side of the ecliptic as viewed from Earth during some months, it means that the planet has a chance to have conjunction with a number of stars near the Sun's path; some as bright as first magnitude, for which it can get as close to as it can to the dimmer stars within 8º of the ecliptic. Although we lose sight of Theta Virginis once the Sun gets high enough, we will have a chance to catch the pair again shortly after they rise tomorrow at 4 AM. They will rise at almost exactly the same time, and you will notice why when I show the image for them zoomed in! Have your telescope ready and some high-powered eye-pieces! It will be well worth it.
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