INFERIOR CONJUNCTION OF VENUS: This week, something strange and wonderful is happening to the shape of Venus. Telescopes pointed at the second planet show it becoming very large (larger, apparently, than Jupiter) and curving into a narrow crescent. Astronomers call this an "inferior solar conjunction"--when Venus passes almost directly between Earth and the sun. The event is extremely beautiful, yet dangerous to observe. Visit today's edition of Spaceweather.com for photos and safe observing tips.
Above: Venus photographed in broad daylight by Shahrin Ahmad of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Browse Spaceweather.com's Realtime Venus Photo Gallery for latest images of the inferior conjunction.
