Venus and Jupiter Near 1.5-Degree Conjunction on June 9

7 articles · Updated · South Wales Argus · May 23

June 9 will bring Venus and Jupiter into a close evening conjunction, with the two planets appearing just 1.5 degrees apart in the western sky.
Venus is already shining low over the western horizon until around midnight, while Jupiter sits nearby and the pair appear to draw closer each night because of their orbital motion.
That separation is roughly three Moon-widths, or about the width of a little finger held at arm’s length, making the event easy to gauge with the naked eye.
The skywatching update also noted an aurora sighting in parts of Wales after a solar outburst and a 35-meter asteroid that passed Earth at 57,000 miles this week.

For the upcoming Venus-Jupiter conjunction, what simple tools can beginners use to start their own stargazing journey?

With asteroids like 2026 JH2 passing so close, what are our real defenses against a potential impact?

As the sun nears its activity peak, where can we expect stunning auroras and what risks do these solar storms bring?