Posted on 12/15/2020 3:22:37 PM PST by MtnClimber
Explanation: It's happening. Saturn and Jupiter are moving closer and will soon appear in almost exactly the same direction. Coincidentally, on the night of the December solstice -- the longest night of the year in the north and the longest day in the south -- the long-awaited Great Conjunction will occur. Then, about six days from now, Saturn and Jupiter will be right next to each other -- as they are every 20 years. But this juxtaposition is not just any Great Conjunction -- it will be the closest since 1623 because the two planetary giants will pass only 1/10th of a degree from each other -- well less than the apparent diameter of a full moon. In the next few days a crescent moon will also pass a few degrees away from the converging planets and give a preliminary opportunity for iconic photos. The featured illustration shows the approach of Saturn and Jupiter during November and December over the French Alps.
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.
Great graphic!
Too bad they’ll be at their closest so low on the horizon. Sun is slowly creeping into their part of the sky, or at least appears to be as we orbit round the sun and our perspective of the pair changes.
Can’t wait to see some of the close-up ground-based telescope images, including from amateur photographers.
bttt
“And there shall be signs in the heavens ...”
Well, *I* think it’s pretty wonderful anyway. :-)
Ack! I meant “signs and wonders”.
Sheesh, and I’ve had my full coffee quota today!
Can't wait for the Crescent Moon to be a part of it. I've got a new camera now, and it took some great shots of the Full Beaver Moon rising last month. Canon SX530 HS:
'Cold Moon' will be here December 29, 2020.
I wonder if you could get a proper exposure of both at the same time? Jupiter is so much brighter.
You must have meant 6 pm. Impossible to see at 6 am.
Thanks! Yes. :)
bttt
I have had good success for moon pix by zooming in, focus and start at f11 and 1/125...
Work my way out from there with speed first...
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🎄🍸🍸🍸
I watch them getting closer every night while walking my dog. Tonight though it was cloudy in Omaha so I could not see them. But we will be back at it tomorrow night.
Oh, and you can REALLY see Mars brightly to the southeast in early evening.
Very nice, thanks!
At this point, they’re calling for nice weather next Monday and I hope that holds. I want to get pix of this event. I’d hoped to get pix the three or four nights before, as the planets get closer, but our forecast looks pretty dismal up until the last day. *sigh*
If you get some good pics, please post them to the next APOD thread!
My little Nikon has a great zoom and I've gotten some nice pix of the moon. This is one of my favorites, taken a few years ago of the Strawberry Moon just after moonrise. It was still ruddy, and craters along the edge are visible.
If the skies permit, I hope to be able to get a decent shot of the "Christmas Star". If the sky's cloudy, you'll be able to open your windows and hear me cussing no matter where you live. LOL
Hoping Uranus doesn’t come around and spoil the view.
Someone had to say it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.