Bhubaneswar: Skywatchers in Bhubaneswar and several parts of Odisha were treated to a spectacular celestial sight Monday evening as the bright planet Venus appeared alongside the Moon near the horizon, creating a striking visual spectacle.
The astronomical event involved a lunar occultation of Venus, in which the Moon passed in front of Venus from the perspective of observers on Earth, temporarily hiding the bright planet from view.
According to Indian Standard Time, the occultation began around 5:20pm to 5:30pm and continued until approximately 6:41pm to 6:45pm. During this period, Venus disappeared behind the Moon before re-emerging from its illuminated side.
After 6:45pm, Venus once again became visible close to the Moon, forming an attractive conjunction that caught the attention of skywatchers. In Bhubaneswar and many other places across Odisha, the Moon and the brilliantly shining Venus appeared remarkably close near the horizon.
People in areas with clear skies enjoyed the celestial spectacle between around 6:45pm and 7:30pm, with the bright Venus-Moon pair providing a beautiful sight to the naked eye.