Posted on 12/12/2020 3:10:29 PM PST by MtnClimber
Explanation: During this northern summer Saturn and Jupiter were both near opposition, opposite the Sun in planet Earth's sky. Their paired retrograde motion, seen about every 20 years, is followed from 19 June through 28 August in this panoramic composite as they wander together between the stars in western Capricornus and eastern Sagittarius. But this December's skies find them drawing even closer together. Jupiter and Saturn are now close, bright celestial beacons in the west after sunset. On solstice day December 21 they will reach their magnificent 20 year Great Conjunction. Then the two largest worlds in the Solar System will appear in Earth's sky separated by only about 1/5 the apparent diameter of a Full Moon.
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then zoom by moving the magnifying glass over an area and then clicking. The side bars will move the zoomed area over the photograph.
Pretty cool stuff, Mountain.
I remember as a kid spending summers on my uncles farm down in Maryland. No city lights, no other light pollution; I’d look up at the sky at night and see millions of stars. Made me feel really small... but it’s an awesome sight.
That’s an amazing pairing. Too bad it’s so close to the horizon.
It is hard for many people to see if they live in cities with all of the lights. I think the clearest I have seen stars is maybe from a sailboat in the Atlantic or else from high on a remote mountain.
It’s amazing sight.
We spend so much of our time every day existing that we forget what just “living” is ... and sometimes seeing an amazing thing like that brings you back to reality.
I appreciate your posting that. Thank you.
December 21, 2020
On December 21, [2020] Jupiter and Saturn will get so close in the sky that they will almost appear to merge with one another. Such a conjunction has not occurred in December for some 800 years.
Source: Astronomy Magazine
https://astronomy.com/news/2020/12/jupiter-and-saturn-will-form-rare-christmas-star-on-winter-solstice
Of course these planets, as any of the occasionally 5 (total) naked eye planets, can be seen from just about anywhere, especially the really bright ones like Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn. Venus at this time is in the early morning sky, rising in the east around 5 or 5:30AM. Surely a beautiful sight as it is right along side the crescent moon. Mercury is a far more difficult challenge. Current it is very near to the sun, rising just prior to it.
“...can be seen from just about anywhere...”
True enough... but it’s all the billions of pinpoints of light BEHIND them that I’d never seen until those summers long ago.
(For some reason, I hear the theme song from Star Trek (The Original Series) playing in my head right now)
I’ve lived in New York City all but one of my 63 years, so when I go out on occasion to truly dark skies, I’m overwhelmed and can barely find the Big Dipper among the thousands of visible stars. Seriously.
If you look at Venus with magnification, as I am sure many here have, it is between half illuminated down to a crescent illumination.
“overwhelmed” is a good word... but even that word falls short to describe it. I know exactly what you mean.
It is staggering to see it. Even in my suburban yard, it’s dark enough to see a hint of it.
Truly makes you feel tiny in the universe...
Clear evening sky here so just went out to look at Jupiter and Saturn a few minutes ago. Maybe a degree apart, maybe a bit more. Jupiter is much brighter.
Today's Arlo and Janis cartoon has Arlo going outside with a flashlight to get a look at Jupiter and Saturn, then coming back to tell Janis "Saturn and Jupiter are a little closer tonight!" But Janis is already in bed. She must go to bed very early--at a reasonable bedtime Jupiter and Saturn would already be below the horizon.
Haven’t done it in years, but have found the best time to observe Venus in its crescent phases is actually during the daytime. However, the planet needs to be sufficiently far away from the Sun in the sky so that you can do it safely. I use a building or other structur to block out the sun. Because during her sunset (evening star) or sunrise (morning star) appearances she is way too bright and glaring to make out the crescent. But during the day, if you know where to look and can do it safely, it is a truly amazing sight.
Last time I did it was in New York’s Central Park, near the Great Lawn. There I am on a bright sunny day with my large tripod-mounted binocs looking up at what most surely believed was an empty blue sky.
A guy walks up to me and asks what the heck are you looking? I told him and allowed him to take a look. He was shocked! The guy was comedian Jerry Seinfeld! I had thought he looked familiar when he began approaching me, but wasn’t sure until he close closer. He hung around for about a half hour, but I never let him know that I knew who he was. I think he appreciated that.
Wow! Didn't even know about that. I once observed some years ago with my 10-inch Dob Saturn reemerging from behind the moon. That was an incredible sight! Will never forget it. Sold the scope years ago. Now only have binocs, which I haven't used for several years. Think I'll get back into it soon.
We've been observing the gradual merge as clear skies permit.
Normally the location would be obscured by trees, but we decided to keep an eye out because those trees are deciduous.
Turns out that we have a view after all, between the branches.
It would seem the brightest will be when Saturn is just about to go behind Jupiter. Coincidence will have Jupiter blockng Saturrn I would think..
Saturn is actually some 500 or so million miles behind Jupiter, which, coincidentally, is around 500 million miles from earth. Distances all of course change as they make their orbits round the sun.
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