Venus, the Moon and Jupiter as observed on December 1st 2008 (photo by Deirdre O'Moore)

On 27 February 2009, the Moon will pass near Venus for the last time in the evening skies for 3 years. Similar spectacular events happened a number of times the last few months to the awe of everyone who saw it! Venus will blaze just above a thin crescent Moon at twilight. When viewed through a telescope, Venus will appear as a large crescent, too, much like a New Moon!

Not only will the eye-catching Moon and Venus hang in the sky, but the planet Saturn - the Jewel of the Solar System - will rise in the Eastern sky. Saturn's rings can currently be viewed 'edge-on', and can be seen as a thin line streaking through the disk of the gas giant, surrounded by its moons.

But that's not all! Comet Lulin has recently become a naked-eye comet, and was viewed by one of our members in Northern Ireland. The comet is getting brighter and closer, and actually appears green in colour! Keith Geary took the photograph below when Lulin zoomed past the double star Zubenelgenubi.

   
Click on the above images to view full-size versions (credits: Keith Geary and David Moore)

Astronomy Ireland is running Sky Watches all over the country on 27 February at 7:00pm where members of the public are invited to see these celestial bodies through some of our biggest telescopes. Our volunteers and coordinators will be available to answer any questions you have. The Sky Watches will take place in:

Confirmed locations: