The 2020 Great Conjunction.

Barbra Voltaire, FGG · **Posted:** Sun Dec 20, 2020 1:58 pm

Quote:

For all you stargazers... in 2 days on 12/21/2020, which is coincidentally winter solstice this year, The Great Conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn, will allow us to see these two gas giants only 1/10 of a degree apart in the night sky from our perspective on earth. The last time this happened was in 1623, so nearly 400 years ago. You can see Saturn (and just make out the rings if you zoom in) in the lower left side of the image, and Jupiter in the upper right with its 4 incredible moons, Callisto, Ganymede and Europa to the left, and Io to the right. Best viewing is to the southwest towards the horizon within the hour or so after sunset, before they get too close to the horizon.
Happy holidays, health, love and peace, all!

danielle · **Posted:** Mon Dec 21, 2020 10:11 am

Thank you , Barbra !
I don't think it will be easy to see "the Christmas star" in Paris: too many clouds today
In addition, the curfew at 8 p.m. prevents late exits ...

I also wish you pleasant and happy moments with your loved ones. Take good care of yourselves until better days

glhays · **Posted:** Mon Dec 21, 2020 9:35 pm

Thank you very much for this heads up Barbra, although my wife and I can't see it in person, the Griffith Observatory has a live viewing on their youTube channel here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uiABtFyGPY
Just amazing!!

danielle · **Posted:** Tue Dec 22, 2020 6:47 am

Thank you for the link ,glhays !

glhays · **Posted:** Tue Dec 22, 2020 3:03 pm

Very welcome, we actually we're able the see it personally somewhat from here in San Diego. Nothing like the observatory view. We are not really star gazer types, but not for Barbra posting this thread we would have not thought much about it, usually an after thought. Seeing something that hasn't been seen in so long was quite spectacular. Just like looking into a gem and seeing an unusual formation that a final polish brings to life, but has always been there. I guess we are all gazers of some type really.Hopefully a sign of a promising new year to all.

Brian · **Joined:** Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:05 am **Posts:** 1499

A photo we got through the telescope the day before closest approach. Jovian moons along a diagonal line through the middle of Jupiter.

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And a phone photo, with trees and power lines below, on the day of closest approach

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I love how the phone photo looks like one of those motel paintings. Kind of interesting to see that the telescope inverts the image. In the sky, Jupiter was lower left, and Saturn was upper right.

glhays · **Posted:** Thu Dec 31, 2020 6:19 pm

Your second pic is about what we saw from our building here in San Diego that evening. The whole event was an amazing feeling to see in person and online. Thanks for sharing your images.

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