Venus-Jupiter conjunction: How to catch Venus and Jupiter's brief embrace before they drift apart
planetary conjunction
, occurs when orbital paths bring planets close from our vantage point on Earth. The two worlds, still tens of millions of miles apart in reality, rose together in the east from around 3am and remained visible until shortly after 6am, depending on location.
The pair shone in the constellation Gemini, climbing to about 20 degrees above the horizon before fading in the glare of the rising Sun. Venus remains the brightest object in the night sky after the Moon, with Jupiter following closely behind.
Finance
Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 4
By CA Himanshu Jain
View Program
Artificial Intelligence
AI For Business Professionals Batch 2
By Ansh Mehra
View Program
Finance
Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 3
By CA Himanshu Jain
View Program
Artificial Intelligence
AI For Business Professionals
By Vaibhav Sisinity
View Program
Finance
Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 2
By CA Himanshu Jain
View Program
Finance
Value and Valuation Masterclass Batch-1
By CA Himanshu Jain
View Program
Venus-Jupiter conjunction: Views for all, from naked eye to telescope
'Spotting Venus and Jupiter in the sky shouldn't require any special equipment or much astronomical expertise,' NASA said in its August
skywatching guide
. The conjunction was visible without aid, but binoculars or a backyard telescope offered richer views.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
The #1 Mistake People with Ringing Ears Make Every Night in Bed
Derila Ergo
Through a telescope, observers could pick out Jupiter's cloud bands and, if timed correctly, its Great Red Spot – a vast storm twice the width of Earth that comes into view about once every ten hours. Venus, meanwhile, displayed moon-like phases, something only visible through optical instruments, taking 584 days to complete a full cycle.
Moonlight and Meteors share the sky
This planetary meeting coincided with the peak of the
Perseid meteor shower
. The waning gibbous Moon, 90 to 95 per cent illuminated after the full
Sturgeon Moon
, reduced meteor visibility but did little to diminish the planets' brilliance.
Live Events
The Moon rose in the west while Venus and Jupiter climbed in the east, giving skywatchers the chance to shield its glare behind trees or buildings. For some, it was a chance to see a shooting star and a planetary conjunction before breakfast.
Those who missed the peak can still catch the pair in the pre-dawn sky over the coming days. The planets will gradually move apart through August, with Mercury set to rise into view later in the month, creating a wider planetary line-up.
Venus-Jupiter conjunction: A rare celestial geometry
The Planetary Society explains that conjunctions occur when planets orbiting the Sun at different speeds line up on the same side from our perspective. This apparent closeness is an optical effect, but it offers a unique opportunity to see multiple planets in one frame of the sky.
Venus-Jupiter conjunction: How to watch safely
Experts warn against using telescopes or binoculars too close to sunrise to avoid accidental exposure to the Sun, which can cause permanent eye damage. The best viewing is from a flat eastern horizon, free of tall buildings or trees, and well before the Sun breaches the skyline.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Time of India
Giant virus discovered in Pacific Ocean with the longest tail ever recorded
Scientists exploring the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre have uncovered a giant virus with a tail longer than any seen before. Dubbed PelV-1, the virus infects a type of plankton called Pelagodinium and boasts a 2.3-micrometer-long tail, roughly 19 times longer than the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19. Its 200-nanometer capsid is dwarfed by the unprecedented appendage, which researchers say may help the virus attach to and enter host cells. While most viruses either lack tails or have tiny ones, PelV-1's structure is unique. Time-lapse imaging shows the tail attaching to plankton cells during infection, yet newly formed viruses inside the cells appear tail-less, suggesting the appendage forms only after the virus exits its host. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like With temperatures hitting 95°F, this is the mini air conditioner everyone's buying in the U.S News of the Discovery Undo PelV-1 was discovered at Station ALOHA, a long-term monitoring site north of Hawaii . Scientists collected seawater from 25 meters below the surface, isolating the plankton and unexpectedly identifying the viral hitchhiker. Viruses that infect dinoflagellates like Pelagodinium are extremely rare; only two other large DNA viruses are known to target this group. Understanding these viruses could shed light on energy flow, nutrient cycles, and even harmful algal blooms in ocean ecosystems. Live Events The genome of PelV-1 is massive for a virus, with 467 genes across 459,000 base pairs. Remarkably, some of these genes are typically found only in living cells, including parts of energy production cycles, light-harvesting proteins, and rhodopsins, light-sensitive molecules that may help the virus capture sunlight. The study also revealed a second, rarer virus in the same culture, named co-PelV. Unlike PelV-1, it lacks a tail but carries metabolic genes that could alter its host's behavior and energy use. Future research will explore how PelV-1 assembles its tail, the role it plays in infection, and whether other long-tailed viruses exist in the oceans.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
How India conquered space: From bicycles to the moon, mars & beyond
In a world once dominated by Cold War giants, India entered the space race on its own terms. With rocket parts on bicycles and labs in church buildings, a newly independent nation defied odds to build one of the most formidable space programmes. Here's the journey In the middle of the 20th century, humanity looked to the heavens in a way it never had before. The first half of the century had been marked by two world wars, and the second half opened with a new kind of tension — the Cold War. Two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, turned their rivalry into an arms race, a propaganda war and perhaps most ambitiously, a space race. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This wasn't just about science. It was about prestige, influence and proving the superiority of one political system over another. Rockets launched with deafening roars, astronauts and cosmonauts became global icons, and the world followed every milestone — from the launch of Sputnik in 1957 to Neil Armstrong's first steps on the Moon in 1969. For most countries, these feats were the stuff of science fiction. The costs were astronomical. The technology, closely guarded. Space, it seemed, was the playground of the wealthy. But in the 1960s, one newly independent nation refused to accept the role of passive observer. Still recovering from centuries of colonial exploitation, India dared to ask: why should space be the privilege of the rich? Could a country with limited resources, but limitless determination, reach for the stars? Humble beginnings India's journey began in 1962 with the formation of the Indian National Committee for Space Research — Incospar. It was the brainchild of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, a visionary physicist who understood that space technology could leapfrog India's developmental challenges. To him, satellites weren't just tools for science — they could help forecast weather, guide agriculture, educate remote villages and improve communication across a vast, diverse land. Sarabhai's choice for the country's first launch site was unexpected: Thumba, a sleepy fishing village in Kerala. The location was perfect for studying the Earth's magnetic field because it lay close to the magnetic equator. But there were no laboratories, no control rooms and certainly no launch towers. So the team improvised. A church became their laboratory. The bishop's house became their office. A nearby shed stored rocket parts. On November 21, 1963, in a scene that has since become iconic, parts of a small American-made Nike Apache rocket were transported to the launchpad on a bicycle. That evening, the rocket roared into the sky, carrying a French payload to an altitude of 208 kilometres. It released a cloud of orange vapour to help scientists study upper atmospheric winds. It wasn't a satellite. It wasn't even Indian-built. But it was proof of concept — India could do this. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD From Incospar to Isro After that symbolic first launch, India's ambitions grew. On the anniversary of independence in 1969, Incospar evolved into the Indian Space Research Organisation — Isro. The goal was now institutionalised: develop space technology for the benefit of India, while building the capacity for bigger scientific missions. In 1975, Isro built and launched Aryabhatt, its first satellite. Although it hitched a ride on a Soviet rocket, the satellite was Indian through and through — designed, engineered and tested by Isro scientists. For a country just finding its feet in space technology, it was a proud moment. The following years were a mix of breakthroughs and setbacks. Some launches failed. Some satellites underperformed. But each problem became a lesson. Isro scientists developed a habit of frugal, iterative improvement — doing more with less and never repeating the same mistake twice. An Indian in space The 1980s brought a new frontier: putting an Indian in orbit. In partnership with the Soviet Union, Isro embarked on a mission to send an Indian astronaut to space. Out of about 50 test pilots from the Indian Air Force, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma was chosen. His training was gruelling. He was tested for claustrophobia by being locked in a lit room for 72 hours, put through extreme endurance drills, placed on a strict diet and tasked with learning Russian in just three months so he could communicate during the mission. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India's space odyssey is a story of sheer grit, determination and challenges and overcoming all obstacles in its path On April 3, 1984, Sharma launched aboard Soyuz T-11 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in present-day Kazakhstan. He spent nearly eight days aboard the Salyut 7 space station, conducting scientific experiments and representing a billion aspirations. When then-prime minister Indira Gandhi asked him from space how India looked, Sharma's reply was immediate: 'Saare Jahaan Se Achcha' — 'better than the entire world.' The words, drawn from a famous patriotic poem written during colonial rule, carried deep symbolism. It was a declaration that India's future was not limited by its past. Building the workhorses If India wanted to be taken seriously in space, it needed its own launch capability. In the late 1980s, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) became Isro's first reliable rocket, able to place satellites into polar orbits for remote sensing. The PSLV became known as Isro's 'workhorse,' delivering dozens of missions over decades with remarkable reliability. Next came the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) for heavier payloads and communication satellites. But to make the GSLV truly competitive, India needed cryogenic engines — which use super-cooled liquid hydrogen and oxygen to produce more thrust for less weight. Here, geopolitics intervened. Attempts to buy the technology from Japan and Europe failed. A deal with Russia was blocked by US sanctions amid unfounded fears that India might use it for missile development. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Instead of giving up, India decided to develop the cryogenic engine in-house. It was a long, frustrating process marked by multiple failures. But by the early 2000s, Isro had its own functioning cryogenic stage — a breakthrough that would power its most ambitious missions. Reaching the moon In 2008, Isro launched Chandrayaan-1, India's first lunar mission. The orbiter mapped the Moon from 100 kilometres above the surface and made a discovery that stunned the world: the presence of water molecules in lunar soil. This single finding reshaped scientific understanding of the Moon and demonstrated India's capability in planetary science. Leap to Mars Five years later, India set its sights on Mars. The Mars Orbiter Mission, or Mangalyaan, was an audacious project. Many doubted it could be done in the time and budget Isro had — less than $74 million and under two years of preparation. But in September 2014, India became the first Asian nation to reach Martian orbit and the first in the world to do so on its maiden attempt. The mission's budget was less than that of the Hollywood film Gravity and yet it achieved what many wealthier nations had failed to do. Landing on the moon's south pole In 2019, Isro attempted Chandrayaan-2, which included an orbiter, lander and rover. The orbiter worked perfectly, but the lander lost contact just before touchdown. It was a disappointment, but Isro immediately set to work on a follow-up. In August 2023, Chandrayaan-3 landed successfully on the Moon's south pole — a region never before reached by any nation. The mission cost just $75 million, showcasing India's mastery of cost-effective engineering. A new era of astronauts In 2025, India marked another milestone in human spaceflight. Shubhanshu Shukla became the second Indian to go to space, travelling to the International Space Station aboard the private Axiom Space Mission 4. The 41-year gap since Rakesh Sharma's flight made the moment even sweeter. Shukla's message from orbit echoed Sharma's: 'India still looks Saare Jahaan Se Achcha.' The continuity was deliberate — a reminder that while technology had advanced, the spirit driving India's space journey was the same. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Business of space India's space economy today is valued at $8.4 billion — around 2 per cent of the global market. The target for 2033 is ambitious: capture 8 per cent of the market and grow the industry to $44 billion. Five years ago, India had fewer than 50 space startups. Today, there are over 200, working on everything from satellite constellations to reusable rockets. This boom is driven by four main forces: strong government support, rapid technological innovation, Isro's research-led culture and private sector energy. The road ahead The next decade promises even bigger leaps. The Gaganyaan mission, scheduled for 2027, will send three Indian astronauts into orbit on an indigenous spacecraft. By 2035, India aims to establish its own space station — the Bharatiya Antariksh Station. And by 2040, it plans to put an Indian on the Moon. From Aryabhatt to Chandrayaan-3, from Mangalyaan to Gaganyaan, India's journey has been defined by frugality, innovation and persistence. It has challenged the assumption that space exploration is only for the rich. It has shown that what you truly need isn't unlimited budgets — it's unlimited ambition. As Isro and India's growing private space sector push forward, the message is clear: when you have fire in your belly, even the sky is not the limit.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Donald Trump Signs Order Easing Space Regulations In A Boost To Elon Musk's SpaceX
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday easing regulations for the private space industry, including eliminating some environmental reviews, in a move likely to please his erstwhile advisor Elon Musk. The executive order, which said it aimed to "substantially" increase the number of space launches in the United States, was described by an environmental group as "reckless." Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has talked up several space missions including sending humans to the Moon and Mars. The Moon and Mars missions are planned to get a ride on the massive Starship rocket of Musk's private firm SpaceX. However, Starship has had a series of setbacks, with its latest routine test ending in a fiery explosion in June. SpaceX dominates the global launch market, with its various-sized rockets blasting off more than 130 times last year -- and that number looks set to rise after Trump's executive order. "It is the policy of the United States to enhance American greatness in space by enabling a competitive launch marketplace and substantially increasing commercial space launch cadence" by 2030, the order read. The change could well benefit Musk, who has long advocated for deregulation of the space industry. The world's richest man was previously a close advisor to Trump before the pair had a dramatic, public falling out in July. The executive order also called on Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy -- who was at the signing and is currently NASA's administrator -- "to eliminate or expedite the Department of Transportation's environmental reviews" for launches. SpaceX has been repeatedly criticized over the environmental impact at the sites where Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket in history, blasts off. The US-based nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity said Trump's new executive order "paves the way for the massive destruction of protected plants and animals." "This reckless order puts people and wildlife at risk from private companies launching giant rockets that often explode and wreak devastation on surrounding areas," the center's Jared Margolis said in a statement. Musk's dreams of colonizing Mars rely on the success of Starship, and SpaceX has been betting that its "fail fast, learn fast" ethos will eventually pay off. The Federal Aviation Administration approved an increase in annual Starship rocket launches from five to 25 in early May, stating that the increased frequency would not adversely affect the environment. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
