maw lod qan

Glad to see you had an enjoyable session viewing with your son. Sharing the universe above us is a special thing. Merry Christmas, and I'll say a prayer for your mother!

Had another post on the local FB group for the rural area I live in post an image taken with their phone. Was perfectly fine, till they commented that they managed to get the Great Conjunction with Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto! I had a hard time making out Pluto in the image, but if you believe, then its okay!

He would have preferred it been changed will he was living. Birthday and Christmas the same day means cheapskates can get by with one gift!😏

It's so amazing how fast one thing fades away, no longer catching our interest or our eyes, being replaced by something spectacular! It's only been just a little over what, two months since the God of War was shining brilliantly, drawing all our attention. But then along comes Jupiter and Saturn, stealing the show in our evening sky! Out last evening, knowing that the two gas giants would quickly no longer be close enough to image together, I took a few more images. Like it always does, Luna attracted my attention. Looking away from Jupiter and Saturn in the Eastern sky, I suddenly realized, just like an over looked "red haired stepchild" Mars was putting on it's own display being in conjunction with the Moon. Now, it's no longer the main act, but it's still part of the show! The Moon is overexposed, but there's the second conjunction of the evening!

Very nice image! The viewing and the planets position were very good here in Fla.

After seeing your post I gave AR2794 a quick peek around 1pm. I took a few single images with my Canon but haven't downloaded them off the card onto my computer. Probably do that in the morning.

Was chatting with my BIL about the conjunction. He lives in Connecticut and wasn't able to see anything with his binos. Posted a link to this, someone else posted it. Their comment was a friend took it with a professional telescope. What do you think? I'm thinking it's a photoshopped image, but what do I know?

It is getting over here you either pay for a program by watching the commercials, or pay for a service like Netflix or Disney and not see the commercials. I've watched every program or series that I can find and the ones that lean more to the scientific side are better than the ones put on by professionals. The idea of diamond rain, wouldn't that make the diamond people on Earth have nightmares?😖

Thanks! Just a lucky single image with my dob and Canon. What made the evening fantastic for me was the brother I've hunted and fished with forever came over to look through the scope! It's those moments that make it special for me!

Welcome to the forum. Be patient when you are viewing because you and your eyes will see more, the more you observe. At first, I can only see the core of Andromeda with my 8" dob. But if I sit and let my eyes adjust more detail slowly becomes visible. We will never see the details you see on the images here that are long exposures taken by some very talented astrophotographers! Still, seeing something so distant is still rewarding. Good luck with your viewing and enjoy!

Your Lunar images, their crisp sharp details are always incredible! I enjoy them and the information you provide.

We're not just moving, we're moving fast!

Been waiting patiently! This will be another addition to my astronomy album. My ten year old grand daughter could barely believe this was written by a young man of just eight years!

Excellent! Last night after that cold front had passed the day before I think it's the best viewing of the two Giants I've seen in some time. What area of Florida are you in? I'm out East of Bradenton and Sarasota. Great to see more Floridians here on the SGL!

Turned out the clouds stayed away. I was expecting them to be a little closer together. Even with my eyes, I could easily see there was two planets. I wonder as the evening progressed it more to the West in the USA if they did get a little closer?

Both of those images are, well, I'm thinking of a word but my limited vocabulary falls short. We have clear skies, but in the distance some high stuff. At least I have a chance.

That's about what I get with my Canon a d 8" dob. Wouldn't it have been spectacular if they were a bit closer and higher in the sky?

I cant possibly image how to describe the scale and vastness of the universe to a young mind of 13, when at 65 it still boggles mine! You could explain how we use light to measure distances, but even that leaves you scratching your head, totally amazed. When I try to explain it to friends, I just say what we can see is bigger than our imaginations, and that right now is just the beginning.

Just like was forecast, yesterday evening another cold front pushed down Florida. Woke to clouds and rain, which might be good for the start of my garden, but they have me worried for this evenings viewing. I've got my fingers crossed.

Very nice, I like the powerline tower in the image! I have been setting up in the same spot in my yard so I could get the oak trees in the foreground for a reference. Something to use to see them closing in together.

Seeing it with our own eyes, that is what I try to impress to all my friends. And when it is possibly something that truly will happen only once in a lifetime, then it's even more special to actually witness it yourself!

They were spectacular as the Sun set yesterday. It was so clear I feel guilty reading your reports of clouds!🙄 No matter what I tried, with the two giants so low, the best I could manage in my single images was a single equatorial band on Jupiter. The past week SWMBO stayed at my youngest daughters to baby sit, being they were in school. This week they are out, and staying with us. Both got to view the planets and the moon with me before the mosquitos ran them in. My oldest, who is ten immediately said, I can see the four moons!

I think it is a combination of everything we've all had to deal with the past few months. You have manufacturers who are probably dealing with sick employees. On top of that, their suppliers have the same issue, along with the people who transport the raw materials and finished products. I have worked at the same big box store for ten years now and cant ever remember it taking so long to get some things back in stock. The uncertainty you are dealing with brought on by your "B" situation and us with our "E" situation, definitely adds to it all.

We have a few clouds rolling in. Another cold front predicted for Sunday, then clearing up (hopefully) by Moday evening. I'm scheduled to work the next three days and go in early, so that means early to bed. After yesterday evenings success, I'm really looking forward for this evening and Monday evening.

The only thing to make yesterday evenings viewing, less spectacular, was the giants being low in the sky. Even though the four Galilean moons and a couple of Saturn's moons were visible, there was little detail that stood out on either planet. Still, being able to see both of those incredible planets in the 23mm eyepiece and 3x barlow was amazing. I convinced SWMBO to come out being it was twilight still and she has trouble getting around in the dark. Like so many others have said, her first response was Wow! I managed a few single images with my Canon to put in my album. I'm eagerly awaiting to see the images by those who are so good at processing and stacking. My fingers are crossed for Monday nights sky being clear for us all!