Actual (amateur) images of the incredibly close Jupiter-Saturn conjunction

SpaceWeather.com ^ | Dec 21, 2020

[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

[rfp1234]

I see FIVE moons, not four!

[Dusty Road]

Took some shots with my Nikon P-1000 zoomed out to 3000mm.<

[ETL]

Yes, but that could possibly be a remote star that just happens to lie in the same field of view. Or, I suppose, it could indeed be a 5th moon, depending on the magnification.

[ETL]

Notice in this graphic below, that by Dec 31, the pair will be very low on the western horizon at sunset, and also that Jupiter will have passed Saturn (on the inside track/lane 5 vs lane 6) by that time and now be EAST (to the left in graphic) of distant Saturn.

Saturn is actually about 500 million miles further than is Jupiter. Jupiter, coincidentally, is currently about 500 million from Earth.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

It was cloudy around here, but I got one only slightly obscured picture.

[Republican Wildcat]

I went out and saw it, but they still appeared separate, like Jupiter had a halo above it.

[ETL]

Tomorrow should be bright clear skies here in New York City, and I imagine for your area too.

[Flick Lives]

Interesting picture. Perhaps there is some sort of optical distortion, but I thought the rings of Saturn and the bands of Jupiter were both aligned with the plane of the solar system.

By the way, as a kid, I always thought *that* was the way you would be able to view the planets using a backyard portable telescope. I was so disappointed to see them as little more than larger white “stars”. I did once go to a neighbor’s house where they had a serious amateur telescope complete with electronic tracking and even with that fancy setup, Saturn’s rings were barely discernible.

[Tommy Revolts]

I’ve been watching them for a month now, getting closer and closer. Can’t wait to see them tonight!

[ETL]

They’re supposed to be within an area of sky no bigger than a full moon. So they are definitely not as one. I wonder if Jupiter ever fully blocked out Saturn, or if it’s even possible? But I’m sure that possibility can probably be worked out using existing computer programs.

[calljack]

Put Skyview on your phone.
Its free.

[who knows what evil?]

Probably some great viewing from the suburbs of Maryville to the east, west or south this evening.

[ReleaseTheHounds]

Southwest horizon. Here, we are overcast.

[ETL]

Interesting picture. Perhaps there is some sort of optical distortion, but I thought the rings of Saturn and the bands of Jupiter were both aligned with the plane of the solar system.

Our view of Saturn definitely changes as we both orbit the Sun. Sometimes the orientation is more aligned with the plane of the solar system than at other times.

[preacher]

L8r

[ETL]

[meowmeow]

They are bright enough that I got a great picture with my cell phone. And I live in a major metropolitan area. Much light pollution. No idea how to post it ☹

[wally_bert]

A few minutes here in Columbia, SC. The binoculars did OK.

Moving the bigger Celestron wasn’t practical.

I need to get a camera for that thing. It hasn’t been a big priority.

[Samurai_Jack]

For context in these trying times. THIS is the Andromeda Galaxy, our nearest galactic neighbor. To Scale against a terrestrial backdrop as it would appear without the light pollution and if we had more powerful eyes.

[21twelve]

That is a REALLY cool image!