Posted on 12/21/2020 2:25:40 PM PST by ETL
THE GREAT CONJUNCTION OF JUPITER AND SATURN: Want to see something that astronomers have been waiting 800 years to witness? Just step outside at sunset and look southwest. Jupiter and Saturn are having their finest conjunction since the Middle Ages--and they're bright. Bertrand Kulik sends this picture from Paris:
"On Dec. 20th, the planets were visible right beside the Eiffel Tower," says Kulik. "It was a magical view!"
At closest approach on Dec. 21st, the two planets will lie just 0.1 degrees apart. That’s so close, some people will perceive them as a single brilliant star. Viewed through binoculars or a small telescope, Saturn will appear as close to Jupiter as some of Jupiter’s moons.
source:
https://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=21&month=12&year=2020
Also, more toward the east, higher in the sky, is the planet Mars. It appears somewhat orange and very bright as well. It’s ‘orange’ because of its iron-bearing rusty surface. It’s basically made of the same rock type as our ocean basins (basalt).
Saw them on the 18th in Oregon. I was wondering what was up. Now I know. Thanks!
That’s a crazy photo considering Saturn is twice the distance from Earth as Jupiter.
It’s great if you can get actual photographs of Jupiter and Saturn.
However, Stellarium, an astronomy app, can give you pictures of Jupiter and Saturn anytime you want, as long as its night in your area. YOu just zoom into their positions.
They are live simulations of the actual planets, as if you had a telescope of your own. It’s pretty cool.
That may be true, but I want to see a picture where they are as aligned as close as possible from somewhere on the earth. I wouldn’t mind seeing how bright they are together as that, “Christmas star”
Thanks! Will check that out.
Will be great for observing the changing positions of Jupiter’s 4 largest moons.
Stellarium is free and it does a pretty good job at pointing out celestial objects.
They are aligned as close as possible today, Dec 21.
Yes, and I hope that somebody can find a best picture somewhere on the earth where we can see just how close they did become aligned.
Some places on earth will be better for that, because they are more straight on than other place.
Now that is a fantastic shot. Even I can recognize which is Saturn and which is Jupiter. Beautiful Pic.
Clearly visible from the mountains of East Tennessee, near the North Carolina border...strong winds blew the clouds out just in time. Very cool.
Correction! By as early as next week the pair will appear closer to the setting Sun as now and thus be already a good deal more difficult to observe.
I can see both Jupiter and Saturn with the naked eye as distinct separate objects.
Same where I live, don't expect to see a clear sky for another 2 months if that.
I've lived in stinking Liberal lunatic-infested New York City all of my life, but my late father was from Maryville Tennessee. He met my Italian-American late Mom while on leave from the Navy while visiting NY's Central Park. Most of my relatives lived in Knoxville. Don't think there are any left that I would even know.
Too overcast here in New York City today. Will go out tomorrow possibly with my tripod-mounted 16x70 binocs.
What sort of telescope would one need to see images like that?
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