Moon, Jupiter, Venus set to dazzle September sky

Taipei, Aug. 29 (CNA) Venus will reach its brightest point of the year in September, while Jupiter and Venus will each appear close to the moon, offering stargazers several opportunities to see the celestial bodies together in the morning or evening sky, the Taipei Astronomical Museum said Saturday.

The first event will be a conjunction of Jupiter and the moon on Sept. 9. The thin waning crescent moon will rise at 3:24 a.m., and the pair will be visible to the naked eye in the low eastern sky before gradually moving farther apart as dawn approaches.

Venus will then have its turn on Sept. 14, when it will appear close to the crescent moon at 7:11 p.m. Looking toward the low western sky after sunset, observers will be able to see Venus next to the slender crescent moon, the museum said.

According to the museum, the highlight of the month will come on Sept. 19, when Venus reaches its greatest brightness. The planet will appear particularly striking in the western evening sky because of its relatively close distance to Earth, making it appear larger in the sky.