Public to view 'double planet' of Venus, Jupiter atop Davey

The Penn State Astronomy Club will hold a public session from 6:20 to 7:30 p.m. today on the roof of Davey Lab to allow stargazers a chance to look through the telescope and see the pairing of Venus and Jupiter.

Venus and Jupiter, the brightest celestial objects in the sky aside from the sun and moon, have been moving closer in recent nights, and tonight they will form an unusual "double planet" -- both discs will be visible and appear as though they are one, according to a press release.

North Americans have not been able to see this event since 1975 and, according to the release, will not be able to see it again until 2016. Although the planets really are separated by hundreds of millions of miles, they will appear to be about a tenth of an inch apart to East Coast viewers, according to the release.

This conjunction of the planets can be viewed in the west-southwestern sky, if the sky is clear.

--by Jennifer Nejman