An Astronomical Treat

[Kevin Farnell]

I went a walk to the village shop this evening at around 5:30pm. A clear sky, afforded me a wonderful view of the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus aligned on the ecliptic plane. Venus looks huge at the moment (although by 6pm, it was be below the horizon), I'm assuming that it's at or near to it's closest approach to Earth.
A similar view should be possible tomorrow (weather permitting), but to see Venus, you'll need to be looking as soon as it gets dark.

Here's a view of the Moon and Planetary line up as it appeared at 5:14pm from my vantage point, just north of Cambridge.



The screenshot was taken with the excellent FREE software 'Stellarium', which is available for Windows, Mac and Linux from -

https://stellarium.org/

Kevin

[FlyTexas]

Thanks for the tip, Kevin. I went outside at sunset and enjoyed the view.

Brian

[Airspeed]

.....

Here's a view of the Moon and Planetary line up as it appeared at 5:14pm from my vantage point, just north of Cambridge.

......

The screenshot was taken with the excellent FREE software 'Stellarium', which is available for Windows, Mac and Linux from -

https://stellarium.org/

Kevin

We have that on our mobiles, Kevin. Agree, it's a good app.

[Nigel H-J]

WOW!! never knew you could see Jupiter let alone Saturn that clearly. Will have to watch out for them tonight.

Regards
Nigel.

[Paul K]

Isn't there a comet visible at the moment, or soon to be so ?

[Kevin Farnell]

Thanks for the tip, Kevin. I went outside at sunset and enjoyed the view.

Brian

I assume that with Texas being further south than the UK, they were higher in the sky and visible until later. Hope you enjoyed the sight.

Kevin

[Kevin Farnell]

WOW!! never knew you could see Jupiter let alone Saturn that clearly. Will have to watch out for them tonight.

Regards
Nigel.

It's not a photo, Nigel. It's a screenshot from the Stellarum program. In reality the moon looked somewhat larger and Saturn a little smaller, but there is a definite reddish colour to Saturn when viewed with the naked eye. Binoculars or a telescope would obviously give a better view.
Sadly, rain is forecast for this evening (at least here in Cambridgeshire), but the alignment should remain (the Moon may differ) for some time yet.

Kevin

[FlyTexas]

Isn't there a comet visible at the moment, or soon to be so ?

Yep, comet Leonard.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/how- ... et-leonard

Brian

[airboatr]

Isn't there a comet visible at the moment, or soon to be so ?

Yep, comet Leonard.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/how- ... et-leonard

Brian

If we're Lucky!
Astrologists are saying, it's not getting brighter.
..

https://www.space.com/comet-leonard-fad ... -splitting

[Kevin Farnell]

If we're Lucky!
Astrologists are saying, it's not getting brighter.
..

https://www.space.com/comet-leonard-fad ... -splitting

That's all right, I don't believe in Astrology.

Kevin