The Uganda Atlas

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Display of Jupiter, Venus and the moon triangle over Uganda on 1st December 2008
Source: Wekesa George (S4. Seeta High School, Mukono Campus) Mikono District, Uganda 2008
Wekesa George (S4. Seeta High School, Mukono Campus) Mikono District, Uganda 2008
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On 1st December 2008, the night-time skies over Uganda witnessed the seemingly meeting of three of
four solar system’s best known celestial objects. The moon, brightest of the three objects in the above
photo, was 405 600 km away from Earth. Venus, to the left of the moon, was the second brightest object
in the sky and 151 million kilometres away. Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, was a dimmer
third and 869 kilometres away.
While the three celestial objects do come together from time to time, they are often too close to the
sun or unite at a time when they are not so visible. The next time the three will be as close and visible,
will be 18th November 2052.
A Rare Meeting: Jupiter, Venus and the Moon