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BAA electronic bulletin No. 00458 http://www.britastro.org/
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The last of this year's three conjunctions between Jupiter and
Neptune occurs tonight, Sunday, 2009 December 20. Neptune will be 0.6
degrees N of Jupiter, and thus in the same low-power telescopic field.
A series of three conjunctions between planets is known as a "triple
conjunction" and is quite unusual. The last occurred between Uranus
and Neptune in 1993. There will be a series between Jupiter and
Uranus in 2010/11 (2010 June 8 and September 19 and 2011 January 04),
but then no more until 2037/38 when the pairing will again be Jupiter
and Uranus. They only occur for superior planets. The nearer planet
passes the more distant in the sky, retrogrades and passes it again,
then passes for the third time in direct motion.
The conjunction tonight will be best seen just after dark or in
twilight. At 17:00 UT the planets will be about 25 degrees high just
west of south. The occasion offers an excellent opportunity to easily
identify Neptune. From east to west the Jupiter system will be seen
as Io-Europa-Jupiter-Ganymede. (Callisto will be transit across the
face of Jupiter and therefore possibly invisible). Neptune will be
found approximately five times that system's width to the north of
Ganymede.
It will also be worthwhile to look at the configuration a day later
on December 21 when the crescent Moon will be 4 degrees to the north
of Jupiter, so all three bodies might be fitted in the same binocular
field. These alignments will provide good subjects for DSLRs and
other cameras used with telephoto lenses or small telescopes.
Happy Christmas from me and the Council of the BAA.
David Arditti
d@davidarditti.co.uk
======================================================================
BAA electronic bulletins service. E-mail: circadmin@britastro.org
Bulletin transmitted on Sun Dec 20 13:41:08 GMT 2009
(c) 2009 British Astronomical Association http://www.britastro.org/
======================================================================
BAA electronic bulletin No. 00458 http://www.britastro.org/
======================================================================
The last of this year's three conjunctions between Jupiter and
Neptune occurs tonight, Sunday, 2009 December 20. Neptune will be 0.6
degrees N of Jupiter, and thus in the same low-power telescopic field.
A series of three conjunctions between planets is known as a "triple
conjunction" and is quite unusual. The last occurred between Uranus
and Neptune in 1993. There will be a series between Jupiter and
Uranus in 2010/11 (2010 June 8 and September 19 and 2011 January 04),
but then no more until 2037/38 when the pairing will again be Jupiter
and Uranus. They only occur for superior planets. The nearer planet
passes the more distant in the sky, retrogrades and passes it again,
then passes for the third time in direct motion.
The conjunction tonight will be best seen just after dark or in
twilight. At 17:00 UT the planets will be about 25 degrees high just
west of south. The occasion offers an excellent opportunity to easily
identify Neptune. From east to west the Jupiter system will be seen
as Io-Europa-Jupiter-Ganymede. (Callisto will be transit across the
face of Jupiter and therefore possibly invisible). Neptune will be
found approximately five times that system's width to the north of
Ganymede.
It will also be worthwhile to look at the configuration a day later
on December 21 when the crescent Moon will be 4 degrees to the north
of Jupiter, so all three bodies might be fitted in the same binocular
field. These alignments will provide good subjects for DSLRs and
other cameras used with telephoto lenses or small telescopes.
Happy Christmas from me and the Council of the BAA.
David Arditti
d@davidarditti.co.uk
======================================================================
BAA electronic bulletins service. E-mail: circadmin@britastro.org
Bulletin transmitted on Sun Dec 20 13:41:08 GMT 2009
(c) 2009 British Astronomical Association http://www.britastro.org/
======================================================================
--
Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling
--
Real Astronomer and head of the Comet section for LYRA (Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth Regional Astronomers) also head of K.A.G (Kessingland Astronomy Group) and Navigator (Astrogator) of the Stars (Fieldwork)
--
Web: http://lyra.freewebsites.com/
Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling
--
Real Astronomer and head of the Comet section for LYRA (Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth Regional Astronomers) also head of K.A.G (Kessingland Astronomy Group) and Navigator (Astrogator) of the Stars (Fieldwork)
--
Web: http://lyra.freewebsites.com/
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