Venus to Make a Rare Pass Between Earth and Sun—But Keep Your Eyes Off It!

New Delhi: Venus will pass between the Earth and the Sun on Saturday during an event called an inferior conjunction. However, this rare alignment is extremely difficult to observe without special equipment and a trained eye, so don’t expect to see it without the proper tools.

Michelle Nichols from Chicago's Adler Planetarium said, “The glare from the sun makes it really, really difficult to see,” highlighting the challenges of observing Venus' rare pass.

Inferior Conjunction

An inferior conjunction occurs when a celestial body, like Venus, passes directly between the Earth and the Sun. This alignment makes the planet appear in the sky near the Sun, which often makes it difficult or impossible to see without special equipment due to the Sun's bright glare. It’s called "inferior" because the planet is closer to the Sun than Earth, as opposed to "superior conjunction," when the planet is on the far side of the Sun from Earth.

An inferior conjunction of Venus happens when the planet swings between the sun and Earth.

This alignment occurs roughly every 19 months due to the orbital patterns of Venus and Earth. The exact moment of inferior conjunction will take place around 9 p.m. EDT Saturday which is 6:30 a.m. IST Sunday.

The Kiss of Venus

Astronomer Geary Albright from James Madison University said, “Some people call that a Venus kiss because we're extremely close together,” referring to the rare alignment.

Paul McCartney's song "The Kiss of Venus" was partially inspired by a book chapter about inferior conjunction. Meanwhile, two upcoming NASA missions will focus on Venus, aiming to uncover how it formed and why it differs so much from Earth.

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Venus goes through phases similar to the Moon. Before and after the conjunction, it appears as a thin crescent, visible only through telescopes. Those watching for signs of the transition can see Venus shift from the evening to the morning sky on Sunday.

In the nights leading up to the conjunction, find a flat area and look near the horizon just after sunset to catch a glimpse of Venus before it sets. It will be one of the brightest objects in the sky.

After the conjunction, Venus will be visible in the morning sky just before sunrise. Take precaution to not stare directly at the sun.

“Get a chance to get to know Venus,” Nichols said.

(with AP inputs)