I always enjoy weeks like this. Not for me so much, but for stargazers who have never really seen the cosmos in motion. And this week provides a terrific opportunity to do just that.

In the southwestern sky at dusk you might have noticed two bright “stars”. The brighter of the two is Venus. The other is Jupiter.

What you might not have noticed — because it occurs so gradually — is that the two have been closing in on each other during the past month. This is because these planets are orbiting the sun — as is our own — and our combined motions produce the illusion of the two bodies nearing each other.

Of course they're not near each other at all. Venus is the second planet from the sun and, right now, lies around 96 million miles from us. Jupiter, on the other hand, lies more than 5 1/2 times farther.

At dusk this week, get out and look toward the southwestern sky for the unfolding sky show. The planetary pair starts the week separated by 7.5 degrees. This is close enough that we can see Jupiter and Venus together in wide-field binoculars.

As the week proceeds, however, keep an eye on these planets. By Nov. 29, the pair will lie only 2.5 degrees apart. Not only that, but the crescent moon will have entered the picture low in the southwestern sky.

On Nov. 30, Venus and Jupiter will reach their closest — only 2 degrees apart. And the moon will appear just to their lower right.

On Dec. 1, the trio will form a tight triangle. This is one sight you won't want to miss.

You might even want to record the event photographically. You don't need to have fancy or expensive equipment — just a camera and tripod will do fine.

Between about 20 and 40 minutes after sunset, set your camera at ISO 100 and try an exposure of 1 second at f/5.6. To assure that something comes out, “bracket” your exposures by taking several over and under this exposure (e.g., 4 seconds, 2 seconds, 1 second, 0.5 seconds, 0.25 seconds, etc.). When you look at your images later you can choose the best exposure.

Set up the photo with an interesting silhouette in the foreground and you will have captured one of the prettiest spectacles in all the heavens.

To find out more about Dennis Mammana and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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