Venus and Jupiter Conjunction: Planets to almost touch in night sky

Look up in the sky at the right moment this weekend and you could see two of the solar system's brightest planets almost touching.

Venus and Jupiter will be millions of miles apart, but from Earth they will appear close to colliding, reports BBC.

This planetary conjunction happens annually but this year they will appear much closer than usual.

The same spectacle won't occur again like this until 2039.

Just the naked eye or binoculars should be enough to see it in a clear sky.

After Saturday, the two planets will go their separate ways as they drift apart in the coming days.

"It's very exciting for astronomers and it's a really great opportunity for people to get out and have a look," explains space scientist and chief stargazer at the Society for Popular Astronomy Prof Lucie Green.

What is a planetary conjunction?

A conjunction is when two planets appear close together or even touching in the Earth's night sky.

In the days running up to Saturday, Venus and Jupiter have been gradually coming together in the sky.

How can I see it?

The peak time to see it was Saturday at around 05:00 BST. But it will still be visible on Sunday and in the coming days as the planets slowly move apart.

Pre-dawn is best, looking east before the Sun rises.

The planets will be low down in the sky, close to the horizon, and hills and buildings will block the view. If you can, find a high spot and look for two dazzlingly bright spots very close together.

"The planets will differ in their brightness. Venus is brighter than Jupiter so it will look dazzlingly bright when you see it. Jupiter will be slightly fainter, about one-sixth of the brightness of Venus," explains Prof Green.

She suggests using an app to help navigate your way around the skies.