Don't Look Up! Venus to Pass Between Earth and Sun This Weekend, Here's Why You Should Avoid the 'Venus Kiss'

This weekend, Venus will pass directly between Earth and the Sun in a rare event known as Venus's Inferior Conjunction. While this event, often referred to as a "Venus Kiss," might sound like a spectacular celestial show, sky watchers are being warned not to try and observe it directly. Here’s why you should avoid looking at this rare event, and what it really means for science enthusiasts.

What is the 'Venus Kiss'?

An inferior conjunction happens when an inner planet like Venus or Mercury aligns directly between the Earth and the Sun. For Venus, this alignment happens approximately once every 19 months due to the differing orbits of Venus and Earth around the Sun.

This alignment will occur on Saturday, and Venus will be at its closest point to Earth in its orbit. This creates the illusion of a "Venus Kiss," a fleeting encounter between our planet and Venus.

Why Should You Avoid Looking Directly at the Sun?

While the phenomenon sounds fascinating, it’s not something you should attempt to watch without proper equipment. The Sun's intense glare makes it almost impossible to see Venus directly during this event. The Adler Planetarium’s Michelle Nichols highlighted that trying to spot the conjunction with the naked eye could be both difficult and unsafe.

"The glare from the Sun makes it really, really difficult to see," Nichols said. Even though Venus is one of the brightest objects in the sky, its closeness to the Sun during the inferior conjunction makes it hard to see without special tools like telescopes or solar filters.

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Is This a Good Time to Study Venus?

While the Venus Kiss may not be a sight for stargazers to enjoy with the naked eye, scientists are excited about the opportunity to study the planet. The alignment provides a chance to track how Venus and Earth shift in space and learn more about Venus’ orbit.

Though this weekend’s event isn’t a visual spectacle for casual sky watchers, it’s an exciting time for space science. Venus will soon be in the spotlight as NASA prepares two missions aimed at exploring the planet’s surface and atmosphere.

One interesting note, Paul McCartney’s “The Kiss of Venus” was inspired by the concept of the inferior conjunction, highlighting just how captivating this celestial event can be even beyond the world of astronomy.

While the Venus Kiss event this weekend won’t offer a breathtaking sight for sky watchers without proper equipment, it’s still a significant event in the study of our solar system. Keep an eye on Venus in the coming days as it moves from the evening sky to the morning sky after the conjunction.