Venus and Jupiter Over Belfast

Explanation: Venus and Jupiter appeared to glide right past each other earlier this month. In a slow day-by-day march, Jupiter sank into the sunset horizon while Venus remained high and bright. The conjunction ended the five-planet party visible over the last two months. Jupiter , of course, is much further away from the Earth and Sun than Venus , so the passing was really just an angular illusion . Pictured above on June 3, a fading sunset finds Venus shining over Jupiter above clouds, mountains, and the city lights of Belfast , Northern Ireland .