TOP 10 NIGHT SKY EVENTS FOR 2009: March 27

By Alan Dyer

astronomy space night sky calendar event watch

7. Venus Closes in on Earth - March 27

At the end of March, Venus passes from the evening sky into the morning sky -- ending several months as an "evening star" and beginning several months as a "morning star."

Along the way it passes between us and the sun, coming as close to Earth as any planet can (an "inferior conjunction" that happens every 580 days or so).

A cautiously-aimed telescope can pick out Venus in the daytime as an ultra-thin crescent sitting just above the sun, a rare and memorable sight.

Credit: Courtesy of TheSkyX™/Software Bisque