The future of Saturn and Jupiter

[badgerchap]

Been looking ahead in time on Stellarium, and boy, are we in for a show with the Gas Giants between about 2019 and 2022. Particularly around the 15th ish of December 2020 - Both planets in one image - they both fit on one sensor with my current set up! Can't wait - it's a shame it's seven years away really.

Is anyone else aware of any other fairly distant events like this? Always good to be prepared after all!

[nephilim]

Wow, that'll be some sight & hopefully i'll have had enough clear nights to practise my AP (non-existent due to cloud) skills, good job this is in winter as they disappear below the horizon by 6:30pm.

Steve

[ArmyAirForce]

Unfortunately for me, the conjunction will only be about 4.75 degrees above the horizon at sunset, so I'm not sure how much I'd see from home. Certainly a poor location to try and image the pair.

[badgerchap]

To be honest I might even travel a bit for a shot like this, should be an image worth working for!

[ArmyAirForce]

I'm guessing it would have to be a composite image to get the best out of it. I know my camera settings are very different for Jupiter and Saturn.

[badgerchap]

Maybe indeed. For me it'd be more the novelty value than the actual quality, although I'm sure someone will be able to come up with a decent method for a good capture.

[Naemeth]

Blimey, they'll both fit with my 26mm in my Heritage, easily . You probably need a FOV of about 1 degree for them, maybe 1.5 to be safe.

[Astrobits]

Hmmm. an interesting sight.

According to my prog on the evening of the 21st December 2020 they will be only just over 6 arc minutes apart

Nigel

[Astrobits]

P.S. thanks Badgerchap for the heads-up.

Re-checking the prog indicates that they are even closer at 17:30 on that day at 6' 6", almost 1 hour before setting and 1 1/2 hours after sunset. The distance between Europa and Callisto at that time is 6' 39".

Nigel

[Champagnerocker]

Here is a screengrab from stellarium that looks potentially awesome

[K3ny0n]

I can't wait, thanks for that!

Rob.

[Andymod]

That view will be worth the wait

[badgerchap]

Looks awesome, eh? Not often we get a chance like this, what with Saturn's uber-orbit!

Oh this is my 1000th post

[cathalferris]

Might be a great opportunity to try imaging them in daytime..

[Monty]

I'll have a beautiful 14" SCT by then

[Pig]

I was just going to enter the date in my diary but i don't have one for that year yet

[dellboy78]

I dont mean to dampen everyones spirits, but i've just checked and its gonna be cloudy with the possibility of heavy snow that night.....

[badgerchap]

I dont mean to dampen everyones spirits, but i've just checked and its gonna be cloudy with the possibility of heavy snow that night.....

You know, I have absolutely no doubt that you're right. Lol

[dtr42]

I dont mean to dampen everyones spirits, but i've just checked and its gonna be cloudy with the possibility of heavy snow that night.....

no snow, the global warming will have melted all snow and ice caps nbut you might get a great view from your life raft

[bomberbaz]

I dont mean to dampen everyones spirits, but i've just checked and its gonna be cloudy with the possibility of heavy snow that night.....

Cheerful soul antcha deloy, lol

btw, some of you don't wish your lives away. There will be many great astro occurences before then and we should look forward to them all with equal relish.

Baz/Steve

[jason.p]

Can someone please remind me nearer the date (and speak loudly). I already have problems remembering what day it is

Thanks

[JamesF]

btw, some of you don't wish your lives away. There will be many great astro occurences before then and we should look forward to them all with equal relish.

Quite. There are still a few things to see this year yet One I'm looking forward to for Jupiter is in October, when three moons transit Jupiter at the same time.

When it does happen however, I reckon given a couple of metres of focal length to get some decent image scale both planets should just fit on my ASI120MC chip at the same time at their smallest angular separation. At more than two metres I think you'll need a camera with a bigger sensor.

James