2 planets to dance
duet this evening

Islanders should see "a beautiful show" by Jupiter and Venus at dusk today in the western sky, said Carolyn Kaichi, Bishop Museum Planetarium manager.

The two brightest planets will appear closest together as they pass each other in their orbits around the sun, she said.

Spectators need a clear view to the west, she said. "If you cannot see the sunset, you need to get somewhere where you can."

Before the sky gets dark, find Venus, the brightest planet and third-brightest object in the sky after the sun and moon, she said.

Venus and Jupiter can be seen less than one degree apart as the sun sets, "or about the width of your pinkie finger held at arm's length," Kaichi said.

She said Jupiter will slowly pull away from Venus after today as it begins setting a little earlier each night.

"But that's not all. On (Tuesday) the pair of planets will be joined by a thin crescent moon as the new moon begins to wax," she said.

She expects a lot of calls to the planetarium "as people wonder about this eye-catching sight, as it did in August when Venus and the new moon were similarly close together in the west."