Celestial kiss: How to see Wednesday’s rare conjunction between Mars and Jupiter

Calling all astronomy enthusiasts and astrology geeks alike!

Turn your head skyward in the wee hours of the morning this week, and you’ll see Mars and Jupiter appear to almost kiss.

From our perspective here on Earth, come Wednesday, Aug. 14, the red planet and the great gas giant will be in their closest proximity since 2018.

The duo will not appear this near again until December 2033.

As NASA promises, “They’ll appear just a third of a degree apart, which is less than the width of the full moon.”

While the planets may seem dangerously close to one another, that intimacy is a cosmic optical illusion. In reality, the two luminaries are more than 350 million miles apart.

The event is known both astronomically and astrologically as a conjunction. To learn more about how this meet-up will affect you, see our explainer here.

Due to the brightness of both planets, this conjunction will be visible to the naked eye, so long as the skies are clear and folks are willing to rise early enough to see the show.

The white light of Jupiter will contrast beautifully with the red shine of Mars.

Prime viewing for the path crossing is Wednesday morning, a few hours before sunrise, peering toward the eastern sky.

However, spectators and stargazers can continue to watch the two planets “dance” over the coming days as Mars gradually moves away from Jupiter.

Binoculars and/or a telescope are recommended for those who want a better view — and the bonus of seeing Jupiter’s many moons.

And this celestial tango is not the sole reason to look up this week as the annual Perseid meteor shower will continue to rain down wishes through the late days of August.

Mars and Jupiter will still be in cahoots on Aug. 27 when, according to NASA, the crescent moon will join them to form a dazzling trio.

Look for the high shine of this holy trinity in the east an hour or so before sunrise.