Slendor, crescent moon will illumninate two brightest planet

[Jasujo]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27958792/?GT1=43001

For North Americans:

Look to the southwest after sunset on Dec. 1 for a close conjunction between three bright solar system objects: the moon, Venus and Jupiter. If you have binoculars, you might even be able to fit all three of them in the field of view. Between now and then, you can see Jupiter and Venus getting closer together each evening.

Venus has adorned the southwestern twilight sky since late August. No other star or planet can come close to matching Venus in brilliance. During World War II, aircraft spotters sometimes mistook Venus for an enemy airplane. There were even cases in which Venus drew antiaircraft fire.

This winter, Venus is the unrivaled evening star that will soar from excellent to magnificent prominence in the southwest at nightfall. The interval by which it follows the Sun will increase from nearly three hours on Dec. 1 to almost four hours by Jan. 1.

It's probably the first "star" you'll see coming out after sunset. In fact, if the air is very clear and the sky a good, deep blue, try looking for Venus shortly before sunset.

Jupiter starts December just above Venus and is moving in the opposite direction, dropping progressively lower each evening. By month's end Jupiter meets up with another planet — Mercury — but by then Jupiter is also descending deep into the glow of sunset. In January, Jupiter will be too close to the Sun to see; it's in conjunction with the Sun on Jan. 24.

For Europeans:

As beautiful as the view of Venus, Jupiter and the moon will be from North America, an even more spectacular sight awaits those living in parts of Western Europe where the moon will pass in front of Venus.

Astronomers refer to this phenomenon as an "occultation," taken from the Latin word "occultÄ re," which means "to conceal."

This eye-catching sight will be visible in complete darkness across much of Eastern Europe. Farther west, Venus will disappear behind the dark part of the moon either during evening twilight or just before the Sun sets.

When Venus emerges, it will look like a brightening jewel on the slender lunar crescent. For virtually all of Europe, the Sun will have set by then, the exception being southern Portugal (including Lisbon).

Such favorable circumstances are quite rare for any given location. For example, the last time London was treated to such a favorably placed Venus occultation such was back on Oct. 7, 1961.

And after 2008, there will not be another similarly favorable Venus occultation for the United Kingdom until Jan. 10, 2032.

I just thought I'd give a heads up incase anyone wanted to check it out tonight.

[Blake]

Yeah, I saw it last night. It was pretty cool. Just looked like the moon with two stars, though. If I had a telescope, then it would be for a lack of better words, PURE EXTREME!

[theonlysaneone]

I saw it last night and tonight; it's absolutely amazing looking.

[Combusken BG]

I didn't see it over here in the UK. I didn't know what time to look outside for it.

[Siniri]

It's times like this when it stinks to live in a big city with its light pollution -- and we don't have a lot of sky in this "City of Trees" (and hills). Thanks for sharing, though, and if anyone gets any pics, I'd love to see them.

[Helena]

Oh.
Oh.
So that's what those two bright dots were. I saw 'em at about 4:30PM, maybe a bit later. I thought they were aeroplanes at first, but they weren't moving, so I was confused. XD 'Twas preetty. Saw them last night and tonight.

[DM was on fire!]

I SAW THAT!
Had no clue in hell what was going on though. All I knew was there were twere two stars I ain't ever seen before. XD

[Byakuya San]

I saw the stars and thought they were planets, but couldn't be sure, so I assumed they were stars, when they were really planets. Ok then.

[Shoyru_Lover]

We had something similar to this in Melbourne the other night. There were two eyes and a crescent moon and it looked like a smiley face. It was rather cute to see actually. I wonder if I can find a photo of this...

[3lla]

We had something similar to this in Melbourne the other night. There were two eyes and a crescent moon and it looked like a smiley face. It was rather cute to see actually. I wonder if I can find a photo of this...

That's what I saw!
I didnt realise that this happened until I came across this thread here
I just thought it was two stars coincidently places near the moon making a smiley face

[DM was on fire!]

It looked like it was frowning, here. XD