Moon Jupiter Conjunction Sept 29th 2009 (click for larger image)
Lovely close conjunction (appulse, for some) of the Moon and planet Jupiter tonight.
The Moon appears to be about half a degree in diameter to us on Earth, so tonight, Jupiter is about half degree from the Moon.
I have just captured the image on the right from the UK, with my Canon dSLR camera, using its 18-55 mm standard lens.
If you are in the United States for example, this view of the Moon and Jupiter conjunction is coming towards you NOW!
So I suggest you get outside tonight, and take a look!
It’s rare to be able to see the Solar System’s giant planet Jupiter, so close to our Moon.
You’ll also notice the waxing gibbous Moon (as it’s called). This means it’s getting close to full.. the full “Harvest Moon” will be seen on Sunday October 4th.
So, best of luck.
Post a comment here, if you also manage to observe this wonderful spectacle tonight.
It’s been designated ”Spring Moonwatch” week, as part of the IYA 2009 and we have been blessed with wonderful clear skies here in South-East England.
I have helped run two public events at my local astro society . I even gave a talk yesterday to about 30 people, about the Moonwatch week and what to see on the Moon. And it used my own Moon images, taken over the last couple of weeks.
Two or three of the newcomers, became obviously enthused with the idea of Moon observing, which made it feel very worthwhile.
Newtonian 6 inch reflector on EQ6 mount, observing the 9-day Moon
Tonight, I snapped the 9 day old Moon.
To the right, is my old 6 inch reflector, which I bought on eBay in 2003.
Originally, it was on a simple alt-azimuth mount, but I have recently added new tube rings and dovetail bar, enabling it to be put on the Skywatcher EQ6 mount. (Vastly more stable and of course, driven)
It has worked really well this week for capturing images of the Moon, as it has progressed from 3-day crescent through to 9-day Moon, tonight.
(I shall put together a montage of images from this week.)
Using my now trusty, Canon 1000D dslr, I have (as always) been very pleased with the results.
Here is an image of the 9+ day Moon, I took tonight.
Occultation is the term use to describe when one object in Space, passes in front of another object and in doing so, obstructs our view of it.
We are familiar with occultations of the Sun and the Moon. We give these occultations a special name – eclipses – solar eclipse for the Sun and lunar eclipse for the Moon. read on..
