A stunning astronomical event unfolded in the northern skies of Saudi Arabia on the night of October 5, 2024, as the Moon and Venus aligned in a striking conjunction. This phenomenon, visible to the naked eye, occurred shortly after sunset in the Northern Borders region, with only three degrees separating the two celestial objects.
According to astronomer Berjis Al-Fulaih from AFAQ Society for Astronomy, a conjunction occurs when two celestial objects appear close together in the sky. Venus, often referred to as the 'Evening Star' or 'Morning Star' depending on its position, was prominently showcased alongside the crescent Moon.
Majed Abu Zahra, head of the Jeddah Astronomy Society, noted that the appearance of these bright objects just after sunset created a breathtaking view. As the second and third brightest objects in the night sky after the Sun, their alignment offered a remarkable sight.
The phenomenon was enhanced by a soft glow known as Earthshine, illuminating the dark side of the Moon due to sunlight reflected off Earth.
Looking ahead, Abu Zahra mentioned an upcoming astronomical event: the arrival of Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, which will be visible in mid-October, positioned 20 to 25 degrees northwest of Venus on October 13 and 14. Although comets can be unpredictable, this one is expected to be visible to the naked eye.
Additionally, on October 25, Venus will appear three degrees north of the star Antares, and by the end of the month, it will be closer to Earth, with a disc size of 14 arc seconds and 77% illuminated.