The planets Mercury and Jupiter will be visible to the naked eye, close together on the western horizon, on Thursday night (25).
Although they are not physically close, the visual effect observed from a terrestrial perspective is that the planets will be close.
Unlike Venus, which will be visibly shining over the next few weeks, its visibility will be fleeting, passing over the horizon only between 30 and 50 minutes after sunset, ceasing to be visible at the beginning of the night.
According to astronomer Prof. Dr. Marcos Calil, tonight is one of the last opportunities to observe the union of the planets in a comfortable way. “Mercury and Jupiter are increasingly lower on the horizon after sunset. Those who wait to observe in the coming weeks will find much more difficult conditions. This is an excellent time to follow the phenomenon”, explains Calil.
To view the phenomenon comfortably, it is recommended to look for a free location on the western horizon, without buildings, trees, hills, mountains or other obstacles that make it difficult to view.
The planets can be seen with the naked eye. However, if a closer view is desired, the use of 10×50 binoculars is recommended.
*Under the supervision of Thiago Félix
