2020 Dec 21 - Jupiter Saturn Conjunction

[PMSchu]

Fortunately BMD, while the closest approach occurs on the 21st, the planets are within 20 arc-minutes from the 18th to the 24th or thereabouts. That's still pretty close. On the 16th the waxing crescent moon is 5° below the planets. That would make a cool photo.

Phil S.

[ledge1962]

We just checked our long range forecast for that week, and we have clouds and thunderstorms here 
Would love to see a picture if someone gets one please.

[PMSchu]

Hi George,

Unfortunately that's how the weather generally goes in Ohio too. My wife saw the 2 planets on a clear night a couple days ago, they're getting close. One of my sons is going to try with my Canon 7DMk2 camera & 500mm telephoto lens on a fixed tripod. The planets require a clear southwest horizon to see them from 40°N about 1 hr after sunset.

We'll see how it goes.

Phil S.

[ledge1962]

Thanks Phil, I have my fingers crossed

[PMSchu]

Hi All,

My son got this image on 20 Dec 2020 at 18:30 EST from Columbus OH. It was shot through his attic window because the planets were in the trees from street level. The image was taken with a Canon 7DMk2 DSLR on a fixed tripod using a 500mm f/4 + 1.4x teleconverter 1/20 sec at f/5.6. Here's the full APS-c frame: 
[attachment=1570]

And here's a heavy crop: [attachment=1570]

The 4 Galilean moons are visible, but Titan is too faint to show up. The moons are right where ST4i predicts they should be.

Very cool!!!

Phil S.

---

Oops, the uncropped image is posted twice. The thumbnail shows the cropped image. Hmmm, no thumbnail.

Here's the crop: [attachment=1572]

Phil S.

[theskyhound]

Awesome

[ledge1962]

Nice work Phil. As predicted, we have had crap weather. I had about a 5 minute gap in the clouds, so was able to glimpse them disappearing below the horizon. The scope was still warm so didn't bother with trying to get a photo, but the 2 planets and the 5 moons had seconds of clarity as the atmosphere changed.

[PMSchu]

I'm glad that you got to see them! I saw an image on another board shot from Texas with an 11" scope & DSLR, I'll ask for permission to post it here. It's a great image.

Phil S.

[Philschu75]

We couldn't see the conjunction at all on the 21st here in Columbus, but I did get another opportunity again last night and again had to shoot out of my attic window since the planets were behind my neighbor's house across the street.  I cropped this one too.

[PMSchu]

According to ST4i the separation at 18:22 EST on 22 Dec 2020 was 10'10". Still less than twice the minimum separation. They won't be this close again until March 2080! 

Phil S.