Bashkiria residents will see a rare astronomical phenomenon

UFA, 26 August 2016. /Bashinform News Agency, Arina Rakhimkulova/. Residents of Bashkortostan will be able to see a conjunction between two planets - Venus and Jupiter. This rare astronomical event will take place on Sunday, August 28. As noted by the Ufa Planetarium representatives, the next time a phenomenon will take place only in half a century.

The conjunction will take place at 02.46 Ufa time, at this point the planets will be already below the horizon. Venus and Jupiter will be separated only by 0.066 degrees. This is a very close approach, which is rare. Venus will be located above (north of) Jupiter. If approaching from a large distance are quite often - once every one to three years, something like this event will occur only on November 22, 2065. Then the planets will merge together if watch with the naked eye.

As astronomers note, perhaps the star of Bethlehem was just a close conjunction of Venus and Jupiter shining brighter than others.