Almaty residents will be able to observe a rare astronomical phenomenon — the close approach of Venus and Jupiter in the evening sky — for about another week. Famous Almaty photographer Dmitry Dotsenko shared beautiful shots. He managed to capture the two planets next to each other over the metropolis, with the Kok-Tobe TV tower also in the frame. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
Currently, Venus and Jupiter are less than two degrees apart. That is why after sunset, two very bright points can be seen above the western horizon, which many mistakenly take for stars.
In fact, these are the two brightest planets visible from Earth with the naked eye. They are especially visible shortly after sunset.
"These days have given us a beautiful sight in the evening sky — a real cosmic dance of Venus and Jupiter," Dotsenko wrote on his social media.
According to him, the planets will remain close enough to each other for several more days, so residents and guests of Almaty still have a chance to see this rare spectacle with their own eyes.
It is best to observe the phenomenon immediately after sunset, when Venus and Jupiter appear low above the western horizon.
Earlier, Kursiv reported that on June 12, 2026, stargazers will see a "mini-parade" of three planets: Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter. In the evening, shortly after sunset, they will line up not far from each other along the ecliptic line, and this phenomenon can be observed with the naked eye for several hours.