A rare sky show: Venus and Mercury line up this November

This children’s article, A rare sky show: Venus and Mercury line up this November, has been written for native English speakers and learners of English as a second or foreign language. It can help children practise reading and comprehension, learn useful vocabulary, and explore an exciting sky-watching moment. Written by Sinead O’Carroll, an experienced English teacher and writer.

A surprising sight before sunrise

Early risers have something special to look forward to this November. Two bright planets, Venus and Mercury, will appear close together in the morning sky. 

Venus is usually easy to spot because it shines brightly before sunrise. Mercury is much harder to see. It races around the Sun so quickly that it normally hides in the bright morning light. This makes the close pairing feel like a little space surprise.

What you will see

If you look towards the east about half an hour before sunrise on November 25th, you should see Venus first. It will glow like a bright white point of light. Mercury will sit nearby as a smaller, fainter dot. They will look close together even though they are millions of kilometres apart. This is called a conjunction. It is a moment when two objects seem to line up from our viewpoint on Earth.

How to spot them in the sky

Choose a place with a clear view of the horizon. A hill, an open field, or a window facing east can work well. Try to arrive a few minutes early so your eyes can adjust to the dim light. Binoculars can help you find Mercury, although it might still disappear quickly as the sky brightens. 

Remember to never use binoculars once the Sun begins to rise above the horizon, as they can focus the bright sunlight and hurt your eyes.

This isn’t the only exciting thing to happen in our sky recently, earlier this month with had the November supermoon. You can read about it here – The November supermoon: a bright surprise in the night sky.

Why this happens

Venus and Mercury are the two planets that orbit closer to the Sun than Earth does. They move at high speeds and often appear low in the sky. 

Venus is brighter because it reflects a lot of sunlight. Mercury is smaller and closer to the Sun, so it often gets lost in the morning glow. When their paths appear to cross from Earth, even briefly, sky-watchers pay attention.

Why it matters

Events like this help us understand how planets move in the Solar System. They also remind us that space is full of motion, even when the sky looks still. A simple morning glance can show you the inner planets on the move. This makes the November conjunction a friendly invitation to explore astronomy from home.

To learn even more about this magical sky event, read this – Glowing Venus and Elusive Mercury Before Dawn

Article vocabulary list

• Conjunction – the moment when two planets look close together in the sky.
• Horizon – the line where the land or sea meets the sky.
• Faint – not very bright or easy to see.
• Adjust – to change or get used to new conditions.
• Glow – to shine with steady light.
• Orbit – the path a planet takes around the Sun.
• Pairing – two things appearing together.
• Motion – movement from one place to another.

Comprehension questions

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