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This years best conjunction yet!

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18 years 9 months ago #13109 by Seanie_Morris
This years best conjunction yet! was created by Seanie_Morris
On Sunday and Monday nights next (June 26th and 27th), keep your fingers crossed for clear skies! The best conjunction of planets in a long time will take place.
From around 10pm when the sky begins to darken nicely, you will see a tiny cluster of planets - Mercury, Venus, and Saturn - in the evening twilight. All 3 will lie within a 2 degree field of view on both nights. Mercury is currently catching up to Venus, and overtakes it on the 27th. Saturn just happens to be in the way at the time!

This will be a fantastic photo opportunity if you are able to. Or, if like me, you don't have the kind of camera equipment to take a snap, get yourself a clipbaord and pencil, and draw what you see at the eyepiece. In any telescope with a relatively low power eyepiece, you will see all 3 planets! (by relatively, I mean choose your best eyepiece for your scope that would give you almost 1.5 Moons in its field of view)

Good luck, and hope we have clear skies!

Seanie.

Midlands Astronomy Club.
Radio Presenter (Midlands 103), Space Enthusiast, Astronomy Outreach Co-ordinator.
Former IFAS Chairperson and Secretary.

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18 years 9 months ago #13114 by dave_lillis
Replied by dave_lillis on topic Re: This years best conjunction yet!
Thanks for the heads up,
I think a trip up to Cratloe hill might be needed for this, presuming its clear of course :?

Dave L. on facebook , See my images in flickr
Chairman. Shannonside Astronomy Club (Limerick)

Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me,
but what a way to go. :)
+ 12"LX200, MK67, Meade2045, 4"refractor

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18 years 9 months ago #13117 by ftodonoghue
Replied by ftodonoghue on topic Re: This years best conjunction yet!
I was out and about last night and just managed to catch Venus and Mercury in a pair of 8X21's at 11pm about 4degrees above horizon. Did not get Saturn due to clouds...Hopefully we will get clear skies for this on 26th/27th

Cheers
Trevor

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18 years 9 months ago #13140 by Keith g
Replied by Keith g on topic Re:
Hi all, I plan on getting a shot of this if the clouds disappear, I think the weather should actually be not too bad this weekend :P

Keith..

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18 years 9 months ago #13184 by ftodonoghue
Replied by ftodonoghue on topic Re: This years best conjunction yet!
had a go again tonight,still no luck with saturn. Venus and Mercury made a nice pair though..anybody have any luck

Cheers
Trevor

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18 years 9 months ago #13193 by Seanie_Morris
Replied by Seanie_Morris on topic Re: This years best conjunction yet!
I managed to see one of them last night in between strands of cloud at around 22:30hrs. Don't know which planet it was because I couldn't get the scope onto it in time before it was covered by cloud, but by its brightness, was it Venus and/or Mercury?

I hope its clear this evening to have another look, its supposed to be the best night of the 2. I've got my clipboard and 3B pencil ready!

Seanie.

Midlands Astronomy Club.
Radio Presenter (Midlands 103), Space Enthusiast, Astronomy Outreach Co-ordinator.
Former IFAS Chairperson and Secretary.

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