The conjunction of Venus and Saturn adorns the sky of Arab countries this evening.. An astronomical phenomenon visible to the naked eye
March 8, 2026225 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes
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The sky over Egypt and several Arab countries will witness a remarkable astronomical phenomenon this Sunday evening, represented by the conjunction of the planets Venus and Saturn, where the two planets will appear to be close together above the western horizon after sunset, in a scene that can be observed with the naked eye or using a telescope.
A distinctive astronomical conjunction in the sky
The Astronomical Society in Jeddah explained that the apparent angular distance between the two planets will be about one degree only, which is a relatively small distance equivalent to almost twice the apparent diameter of the moon.
Venus will appear brighter in the sky due to its proximity to Earth and its intensity of brightness, while Saturn will appear in a pale yellow color leaning towards gold.
Why does the conjunction between planets occur?
Astronomers explain that a conjunction is an apparent angular closeness between two celestial bodies as seen from Earth, and it does not mean that they are actually close in space, as there are hundreds of millions of kilometers separating the orbits of the two planets.
These phenomena occur periodically due to the differences in the orbital speeds of the planets around the sun; Venus takes about 225 Earth days to complete an orbit around the sun, while Saturn takes about 29.5 Earth years to complete its full cycle.
The best time to observe the phenomenon
The conjunction can be seen from various regions of the Arab world, where the two planets will appear relatively low above the western horizon during the evening twilight.
The best time for observation is between 20 and 40 minutes after sunset, when the light of the sky begins to gradually fade.
Tips for amateur astrophotographers
Astronomy experts recommend choosing an open observation site facing the western horizon and free from light pollution, such as coastlines, desert areas, or highlands.
The phenomenon can also be photographed using a camera mounted on a tripod and a medium focal length lens with a short exposure time to obtain a clear image capturing both planets in one frame.
A beautiful phenomenon with no impact on Earth
Astronomers confirm that this conjunction does not result in any physical effects on Earth; it is merely an optical closeness in the sky, but it represents a unique opportunity for astronomy enthusiasts to understand the movement of planets and the accuracy of the solar system.
