Well, that was fun. Took my big telescope out to Lake Arlington to get good view of the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction.
I was able to spot Jupiter, three of its moons, and Saturn with its rings all in one field of view simultaneously.
There were a few people with binoculars, but I was the only one packing a 10 inch light bucket.
Had a number of onlookers, a lot of them kids who got to see an up close view of the conjunction. Everyone who came by also got a look at the moon, which is always much more “wow!” inducing anyway.
The littlest one, a girl about five or so was by far my best and most enthusiastic guest observer. She asked why the moon had so many craters. I explained because it’s constantly bombarded by meteors. Then she actually asked a FOLLOW UP QUESTION. “How do meteors form?”
I answered, but not before letting her know that was a GREAT question and how happy I was that she asked. I’ve gotta do more of this sometime.
Addendum: This bit of astro evangelizing was socially distant. Masks required, I’d point the telescope and take a few steps back so they could see.
Hey there! I’m just a fellow astronomy enthusiast who wants to view this spectacular phenomenon in real time through a telescope. I wanted to go to the observatory at the science centre but they’re closed because of Covid-19. I was wondering if any like-minded people are out here who would be open to sharing their telescope with me! :)
I was wondering if any group was out there with the telescopes doing the viewing?
Or are we on our own to find a good spot to see this?
How often is there a triple conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in the constellation Virgo? Such as the one that happened in 1980-1981.
I'm assuming it happens at the same rate for the other constellations? Please forgive my ignorance.
I only have an android device (currently using Sky Map) and my laptop is broken, so I have no computer to access programs like Starry Night or Stellarium.
Also, if someone could recommend a free astronomy app for android that goes back and forward thousands of years, I'd appreciate it!
About 30 degrees above the horizon, south-west. Apparently Saturn is trailing them but I can't pick it out with my binoculars. .
First part: https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/s2nk24/conjunction_part_1/
Previous part: https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/s3d0ik/conjunction_part_2/
***
It had taken several long days of walking, but Caden had finally reached the border of the kingdom. The grassy fields and patches of woodland were now giving way to heath, the hills becoming rockier as they transitioned to more mountainous terrain. Boulders protruded from the hardy vegetation, covered in furry mosses and patches of lichen, surrounded by tough grasses and squat bushes. The violet of thistles and clusters of heather contrasted against the greens of the grass and the yellow flowers of the blooming shrubs, not one of them rising above three or four feet. What few trees persisted here were twisted bristlecones, their gnarled trunks bleached the color of bone by the sun. He would have assumed that they were long-dead, had it not been for a few clusters of green leaves clinging to their skeletal branches here and there. They fared well in harsh climes, and they seemed relatively unfazed by the drought compared to some of the yellowing plant life that surrounded them.
This was the last natural obstacle that stood between Caden and the desert. He set down his pack and retrieved the leather tube that held the map that his mentor had transcribed for him, rolled up inside its container like a scroll. He unfurled it, holding the parchment up as he compared it to what lay before him. There would be no more carefully signposted roads traveled by trade caravans and wandering merchants beyond this point, he was heading into the wilderness. His kingdom was one of the Easternmost on the continent, and most of the trade flowed in from the West.
After his encounter with the brigand, he was more confident in his ability to defend himself, but the thought of meeting a more organized band of outlaws or tribals worried him greatly. Not to mention the feral beasts that might be roaming these plains, starved and desperate enough to set upon a person.
Although the delineation between the wilderness and the kingdom that he had always known existed only as a line on a map, and there was no physical indication that he was about to leave it, he still felt a powerful swell of nostalgia. He turned to look back at the hills and forests, the city far beyond his sight now
... keep reading on reddit ➡I told her I'd look into it.
No one is replying to my comets.
He gets angry with his telescope instead:
Man, you can not be Sirius!
So there’s a very cool domicile Jupiter conjunction with exalted Venus happening at the end of April. Are there any of you out there who have anything cool planned or any good ideas on taking advantage of this super benefic aspect (special talisman, rituals, etc)?
Well, that was fun. Took my big telescope out to Lake Arlington to get good view of the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction.
I was able to spot Jupiter, three of its moons, and Saturn with its rings all in one field of view simultaneously.
There were a few people with binoculars, but I was the only one packing a 10 inch light bucket.
Had a number of onlookers, a lot of them kids who got to see an up close view of the conjunction. Everyone who came by also got a look at the moon, which is always much more “wow!” inducing anyway.
The littlest one, a girl about five or so was by far my best and most enthusiastic guest observer. She asked why the moon had so many craters. I explained because it’s constantly bombarded by meteors. Then she actually asked a FOLLOW UP QUESTION. “How do meteors form?” I answered, but not before letting her know that was a GREAT question and how happy I was that she asked. I’ve gotta do more of this sometime.
Addendum: This bit of astro evangelizing was socially distant. Masks required, I’d point the telescope and take a few steps back so they could see.
)