Kissing planets

The conjunction of Venus and Jupiter

On March 1, 2023, Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, and Venus, the brightest, came together in what is called a conjunction. This is a visually stunning celestial alignment where the two planets are very close to one and another from our vantage point on Earth. Conjunctions showcase the dynamic nature of the solar system. It's important to note that the planets only appear to be very close to one and another. In reality, the planets are still extremely far apart. For example, the distance between Venus and Jupiter is no less than 600 million kilometres.

Throughout history, planetary conjunctions have held astrological and symbolic meaning for various cultures. Some people believe that these events have an influence on the relationships between people or symbolise important changes and energies. After some quick research I found that in astrology a conjunction of Jupiter and Venus is considered to be a powerful and harmonious combination that brings growth and pleasure. However, it's essential to note that the scientific and astronomical significance of conjunctions differs from astrological interpretations. Kepler's laws of planetary motion allow astronomers to determine how often and when we would see planets close to one and another. Therefore we now can predict the positions and therefore conjunction of planets months, even years in advance.

I am not surprised by the amount of extensive astrological descriptions that have been created. Planetary conjunctions are relatively common. Though common, certain planetary conjunctions can occur once in several years or even decades. This makes them significant events for (amateur) astronomers and skywatchers. Can you think of a reason why these conjunctions are quiet frequent? Well the answer lies in the geometry of the solar system as its eight planets orbit around the Sun in roughly the same plane, known as the ecliptic. Venus and Jupiter actually converge a little more than once a year. Well, for the astrologist among you: I am glad that this planet combination has a positive interpretation.