Shillong, Sept 14: Look up tonight — Shillong is in for a celestial treat.
Shortly after sunset on Monday, a razor-thin 12 percent crescent Moon will snuggle up to the brilliant Evening Star Venus in a super close conjunction visible from the city skies. For sky-watchers, it will look like the Moon is about to kiss Venus.
And it is more than just a close meet. According to astronomers, this is a rare lunar occultation of Venus, when the Moon passes directly in front of the planet. Venus will vanish behind the dark edge of the Moon and pop out again beside its bright crescent about an hour later.
While much of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East will see it in daylight, India will catch it at dusk — the perfect time for viewing. In eastern India, including Shillong, the pair will appear low over the western horizon just after sunset.
For reference, in Kolkata the disappearance is timed at 5:49 PM and reappearance at 6:24 PM local time, with Shillong expected to follow almost the same window. At its closest, the Moon and Venus will be separated by just 0 degrees 31 minutes — so close that both will fit in the same binocular view. The Moon will shine at magnitude -10.3 and Venus at a dazzling -4.5 in the constellation Virgo.
The event will be easily visible to the naked eye from anywhere with clear skies, even from the heart of the city. No telescope needed. However, binoculars will reveal something special — Venus itself in a tiny crescent phase, just like the Moon.
Astronomy enthusiasts suggest heading to an open western horizon — the Golf Links, Laitumkhrah, Upper Shillong or Umiam Lake would be ideal — to catch the duo before they dip below the horizon within an hour of sunset.
If you miss tonight, Venus will still be a showstopper. The planet reaches its peak brilliance of the year at magnitude -4.8, shining like a diamond in the evening sky.
But tonight’s Moon-Venus rendezvous is the real show — a rare, romantic meet-up straight from Shillong’s skies.
Don’t miss it.
