Moon, Venus & Mercury 24 DEC 22

[Nakedgun]

~

I had neighbors from four households in my driveway this evening watching through binoculars and a spotting scope.

 

Sky still bright, a plane passes over the 4% Moon at center:

 

Venus about to set near ridgeline, Mercury difficult to make out, right of Moon:

 

 

Near setting, Mercury an easier target:

 

 

 

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Edited December 25, 2022 by Nakedgun

[RT65CB-SWL]

Beautiful colours in the middle image.

Took me a few minutes to find Mercury in the image too!

[PeterW]

Been cloudy for ages and soon to return that way, popped out and just managed to get a low enough W horizon to catch Venus before it set, Mercury just naked eye a little higher behind a tree… with Saturn, crescent moon, Jupiter and mars stetching across the sky. Great sight, worried I’d not get to see Mercury this elongation, much lower than I’ve previously seen it.

Peter

[Captain Scarlet]

35 minutes ago, PeterW said:

Been cloudy for ages and soon to return that way, popped out and just managed to get a low enough W horizon to catch Venus before it set, Mercury just naked eye a little higher behind a tree… with Saturn, crescent moon, Jupiter and mars stetching across the sky. Great sight, worried I’d not get to see Mercury this elongation, much lower than I’ve previously seen it.

Peter

Thanks for the reminder! I'd have completely forgotten. My forecast says I may just about have a window in the weather around 5pm tomorrow, which for my location will be the optimum time.

Magnus

[PeterW]

You might need bins and a low horizon… good luck!

 

Peter