A New Year means a fresh opportunity for viewing new targets and old friends in the sky. Start marking up those new 2021 calendars with this year’s astronomical events listed in this week’s blog!
Your 2021 Sky Event Planner
Tag: conjunction
Images: The Great Conjunction!
The Jupiter and Saturn “Great Conjunction” was well-publicized and well-imaged. Even though the closest approach between the planets was Monday, they’re still in the vicinity and worth a look tonight! This gallery contains some of the best images of the event we found on-line, acquired with Tele Vue products.
Have You Been Watching Jupiter & Saturn?
Great Conjunction: Countdown to December 21st!
On December 16th, Jupiter and Saturn will be a full-Moon’s width apart at dusk as they sink into the south-western horizon. Watch this pair each evening as they draw ever-closer together until they pass within 1/10 of a degree on December 21st. This is the great Jupiter / Saturn Conjunction of 2020! This is the closest they’ve been together since 1623 and most sources say that conjunction was not observed due to the planet’s vicinity to the Sun. The last time the pair was definitely visible this close together was in 1226 in the morning sky. This is a rare “must-see” event indeed!
Late-2020 Sky Events!
Is it just us or did it seem that 2020 was a longer than usual year? Yet while both the year and big Mars Opposition are waning, we can still look forward to some astronomical sights and surprises in the “20/20” sky. We list them in this week’s blog.
Don’t Miss the Lunar Eclipse & Jupiter / Venus Conjunction!
Sky watchers are in for a double-treat with lunar and planetary events on the schedule in the next few days. Brilliant Jupiter and Venus dazzle in the morning as the planets approach conjunction. Sunday night in the Americas will be dominated by the total lunar eclipse.
Continue reading “Don’t Miss the Lunar Eclipse & Jupiter / Venus Conjunction!”
Jupiter Opposition & Mercury Tangles with Uranus!
Jupiter will rise at sunset on May 9th. At magnitude -2.5 it will be an unmistakable sight: the brightest celestial object on the eastern horizon. It will also be closest to the Earth for the year.
A few days later, Mercury and Uranus draw nearer before sunrise. Mercury will be brilliant on the horizon, but northern observers will be challenged in finding Uranus in the gathering twilight.
Continue reading “Jupiter Opposition & Mercury Tangles with Uranus!”
Jupiter & Venus Conjunction – Nov. 13, 2017
Early risers will note that Jupiter & Venus have been approaching each other in the deep-morning twilight of the eastern sky. Jupiter ascends ever higher each morning while Venus settles lower onto the horizon. The two worlds cross paths on the morning of November 13th when they will be about a half-moon width apart. Continue reading “Jupiter & Venus Conjunction – Nov. 13, 2017”