This week, bright Venus and less-bright Jupiter appear to be in close proximity. They are best observed just after sunset in the western sky and will look closest together on Wednesday evening.
No need to worry that they will collide! The current illusion, scientifically known as a conjunction, is purely a function of our vantage point on Earth. The two planets are actually millions of miles apart (an average of 416 million miles in the course of a year) but appear close at this point due to their current orbital positions.
It is a spectacular sight indeed but a reminder that man's interpretation of the natural world has evolved in concert with the advancement of science. One can easily imagine that such a conjunction was an alarming event early in human history.
