New Year's Eve Sky Show

What a way to end the year!

On December 31st, Venus and the slender crescent Moon will gather together high in the southwestern sky for a beautiful conjunction visible for hours after sunset.

The two brightest objects in the night sky can be seen through city lights and even fireworks - so everyone can enjoy the show.

Meanwhile, closer to the horizon, Mercury and Jupiter are converging for their own December 31st conjunction.
This one is not so easy to see, but rewarding for those who make the effort to find the two planets shining through the rosy glow of sunset.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for sky maps and photos of the converging planets.

Bonus: Is Venus really bright enough to cast shadows?
The answer is yes, and the proof may be found on today's edition of Spaceweather.com. A French photographer has captured rare images of Venus casting a shadow and he has even made a movie of the shadow in motion.

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