Mars and Saturn Close Conjunction! Thu/Fri evening.
Hi guys
This thread is to discuss and post your reports of your observations of the close conjunction between Mars and Saturn, this Thursday and Friday evenings - when they'll only be 40 arcminutes apart!
Here is the scene as portrayed by Starry Night Pro Plus 6 set to 11th July 2008 at 5:40pm AEST (GMT+10). The two FOVI’s are for the Vixen 102mm F9 refractor and the Canon 400mm F5.6 lens with the Canon 40D.
I think a telescope image may not look too pleasing, as to keep the two planets in the same FOV may not reveal their nature all that well, and to capture any stars you would have to grossly over expose the planets?
So, it looks like a wide field with some foreground interest may be the way to go?
I had a quick look last night (10th July) although the W horizon is somewhat restricted by the roof line of our house and some trees, as viewed from my usual back garden observing location.
The seeing appeared to be okay as Saturn’s rings were easy to spot in a low power field although Mars, with its brilliant red hues, was boiling in the eyepiece. I didn’t manage to squeeze them into the same field with the Mewlon at F12, although they did look a pretty pair though the finder scope.
A very nice pairing – Mars the God of War and Saturn the ringed giant.
I had a look through my ED80, gee they were small at such a short focal length I didn't get my 12" out. I tried putting the DSLR on the ED80 but they are mere specs at such a short focal length.
My 12" even at prime focus wouldn't have fit them.
Not a chance here. Cloudy and gale force winds last night, snow again this morning. I think the forcast is for it to clear up tomorrow and Sunday, but I'll be down the coast at a 30 year school reunion.
Good viewing conditions here at Hazelbrook tonight, Friday, clear sky and not as windy as last night. great view of Mars/Saturn and not forgetting Jupiter and our own moon which is at it's best with deep shadows.
I got the 8 inch reflector Dob out this evening for a little look in the side yard....Gee Whiz it sure is a handy scope to have around. I am sure that I scared the neighbors with my cannon...
In the 24 Panoptic both were able to be seen in the FOV...they were small but clearly identifiable as Saturn and another planet. Once I started bumping up the magnification I could no longer fit them into the same view.
It was a fun thing to do.
I then spent a little time on the moon...Wow I do so enjoy looking at the moon! Brief but fun evening with the kids and wife too...
Not much but after three days of showers or cloud I was lucky to get just anough time to set up the scope and snap this pic (hand held) through the 25mm plossl.
I think that there maybe just the slightest hint of the rings on Saturn, or then again possibly wishful thinking. Had just a 15 minute window of oppotunity!
Tonight cloud, last night rain, but on Wednesday I observed Mars & Saturn as they converged within a degree of each other - both fitted in the FOV of my 21mm EP and were a wonderful sight!
I snapped a hand-held afocal, but of course it doesn't match the sharpness and brilliance of the miniscule Saturn or the rich twinkling red of Mars that were visible in the eyepiece.
Saw them both thursday night . Beaut sight. Saw Saturns rings, but seeing not much cop. Mars was just an orange blob. I used my Celestron 120 mm XLT refractor and my Hyperion zoom EP at 20 mm they just fitted into the same FOV
Friday night all cloud - hopeless
My data says 40 arcmins... just checked on Calsky (38.4')
totally clouded over. Oh well, back to flight sim 
Beaut sight. Saw Saturns rings, but seeing not much cop. Mars was just an orange blob. I used my Celestron 120 mm XLT refractor and my Hyperion zoom EP at 20 mm they just fitted into the same FOV
