Venus and Jupiter are so bright, they do things normally reserved for the sun and Moon. For instance, they make pillars. Inspect the elongated shape of the planets in this Nov. 24th photo taken at sunset by Laurent Laveder of Gouesnac'h, France:
Venus and Jupiter
© Laurent LavederVenus and Jupiter.

Pillars are caused by ice crystals floating in high clouds. When a bright light shines through such a cloud, the flat surfaces of plate-shaped crystals reflect the light up and down to form luminous columns. Usually the bright light is the sun or Moon; in this case it was Venus and Jupiter.

Readers, you'll want to keep an eye on these planets in the evenings ahead. They're converging for a spectacular conjunction with the Moon at the end of the month. No one has ever photographed a triple pillar before, but a display could be in the offing. Sky maps: Nov. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, Dec 1.