Rare conjunction fish to land next week between Mars & Neptune!

[mental4astro]

Hi all,

I've just come to find out with Sky Safari that Mars will come within 1° of Neptune between the 6th and 8th of December - that's next week.

On the 7th the separation between the two will be 4 min of arc!

Mars will get even closer, but this won't be visible to us here in Oz.

Below is a screenshot of Sky Safari of the apparition on the 7th, the closest approach.

A rare opportunity to see two planets in the one field of view, and with as much magnification as you can muster on the 7th!

Happy hunting!

Alex.

[Wavytone]

Interesting point regarding Neptune and conjunctions...

On the night of its discovery - September 23–24, 1846 - by astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle, Neptune was about 1 degree from Saturn.

Considering how often it does make a close conjunction with the brighter planets - which at that time must have been just as popular telescopic targets as they are now - I find it interesting no-one had noticed an 8th magnitude interloper tagging along close by, whose relative position changed quite obviously over weeks/months, until then.

[mental4astro]

By the way, if you find yourself at a dark site next weekend, jave a go at spotting Uranus naked eye. I've seen it several times from the dark site I go to in Blackheath in the Blue Mountains. Seeing Uranus is a good test of transparency. On the occassions I've seen Uranus I was also able to see fainter stars around it too - a very good sky indeed!

Alex.

[LewisM]

I use a mirror, naked. I can easily see the brown eye looking back at me.

C'mon, you KNEW someone was going to - may as well have been me.

Thanks for the heads up though I suspect Canberra will be cloud ridden as usual.

[mental4astro]

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Always one in the crowd... :lol:

[LewisM]

Natch

[mental4astro]

I'm thinking of going out on the 7th to do some sidewalk astronomy as this is such a unique event. Few non-astronomers have seen Mars through a scope and even fewer have seen Neptune that this is too much of an opportunity not to share it with a wider audience. Yes Mars is small, but the polar cap is still visible and the dust storm has abated, so it is still a good enough target and Neptune is really the stuff of science fiction for most people. And on Friday next week both planets will be in the one field of view.

I've done sidewalk astronomy from the promenade along Coogee Beach, and the times I've been there it has been very successful. But the western sky is cluttered with tall pine trees. I'm trying to think of a location with a better western aspect that has a lot of people. Can anyone suggest a place or two in Sydney 's east. Maybe someone might like to join me too! :D

Thanks,

Alex.

[JeniSkunk]

Not a snowball's chance in Hell of seeing this from my place.
It's location in the sky requires being able to see through the brickwork of my block of flats.
:(

[Nikolas]

Actually I was expecting it from you ;)

[mental4astro]

Jen, I do recall your mobility difficulties. Any chance that a mate has a place with a good westerly aspect you could set up from with time? Or a park or school? Asking a mate to help you out is something I'm not shy of doing either! :D :P :evil: :evil2:

[netwolf]

Alex thx for the heads up, what scope combo will you be using?

[Wavytone]

My guess is the Intes 715D as it out-resolves the others Alex has. Both planets are now serious challenges for resolution.

[netwolf]

Nick I suspect that to be the case just checking as on the 6th it maybe be tough to get both in FOV of the 7” f15 mak even at 40mm ep. on the 7th its no issue. I am thinking I will use my ETX125 on the 6th if weather permits and try the 7” on 7th.

[Rkonrad]

Thanks Alex will have a look, weather permitting as summer here is not that clear as our winter evenings

[mental4astro]

Fahim,

My Mak, and for that matter my SCT, both use 2" diagonals. With the Intes Mak and a 30mm 82° eyepiece I am able to get TFOV of just under 1°, so I will be able to see the conjunction on all three nights with that scope. However, this scope/EP combination I haven't used before, and as the bore through the primary mirror is quite small, I'm not sure if I'd actually get the full TFOV with that scope/EP combination. The image may vignette, but I need to see for certain, and if it does by how much.

This has not really been a issue with the SCT though, as the bore in this primary is slightly larger than in the Mak. I also have other scopes I could use and an NEQ6 to provide tracking. The SCT is on a fork and wedge.

I still need to settle on a place to set up for the sidewalk astronomy. The promenade along Bondi Beach is another possibility. The western sky is very clear there and has plenty of pedestrian traffic.

[mental4astro]

I've been looking for astro outreach/sidewalk spots with a clear/mostly clear western sky and pedestrian traffic. So far I've identified these candidates:

* Bondi Beach next to the Pavilion

* Hyde Park across the road from the western transept of St Mary's Cathedral - Center Point is very close by :)

* Taylor Square in Darlinghurst, but a lot of road traffic too - have to think carefully about this one because of the cars.

* Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour - good location, but tricky to access with gear.

* Barrangaroo - Stargazer Lawn! What a name and location!!! :eyepop: I might give them a call!!! Dunno what pedestrian traffic is like there though early evening... Well, blow me down! I just spoke with the good people at Barrangaroo and they said it would be perfectly fine for me to set up a scope either on the Stargazer Lawn or on one of the grassy areas beside the shoreline walkway! :astron: What a nice group of people to talk to! :) Might have solved my location task! If it's less than 5 people in the team setting up then no permits are required. If 5 or more, then it requires a permit. Only condition they put is not to block any of the walkways. Easy.

This makes for a few locations in Sydney's east and even CBD.

Alex.

[bigjoe]

Alex thanks.

Havent been on here for a while..used to live 60 Blake st Dover Heights not far from you... great views from the park there.. Now I'll be watching this event from Concord or Castelreagh..cant wait.

Cheers bigjoe.

[bigjoe]

Barrangaroo..
Think that area has severe parking restrictions at night ..best to check..Hickson rd Walsh Bay ,does or did!

bigjoe.

[Wavytone]

Joe you’re right... thanks to the goons drag racing at night plus the dealers plying their wares.

Personally I wouldn’t put a telescope out there for another reason - A lot of A-list types live in the apartments in that area and the sight of a telescope is going to draw suspicion - and the police - fairly quickly.

Mrs Macquaries, Glebe Point or Pirrima Park is are better in that respect.

FWIW from last Saturday night you’ll need around 200X to resolve Neptune as a little blue green disk and Mars will be easily seen as a disk. In my scope (F=3100) that means a 14mm eyepiece and at that power both Mars and Neptune will fit comfortably in the field of many eyepieces, so it should be a pretty fine sight.

If the seeing allows more power... great.

[bigjoe]

I though so Wavy..my Bro had a penthouse there before moving to Hollywood and Vegas(Just got back to Sydney)
ALWAYS HOONS!

bigjoe.

[mental4astro]

Pirrima Park in Pyrmont it is this Friday! :)

Location of Pirrima Park in Pyrmont (https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Pirrama+Park/@-33.8634051,151.1903447,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x6b12ae4a1 a502dd7:0x6ec4828239803edf!8m2!3d-33.8634051!4d151.1925334)

I'm hoping to be set up by 7pm, giving me about half an hour before Mars appears. If you'd like to bring a scope and join me, you would be most welcome - would be nice to have a couple of scopes and another enthusiast. If you are in the area, come by and say hello and have a look :astron:

Alex.

[mental4astro]

Fine tuning my new set up tonight, and the planetary couple are bang on easy to spot together in the one FOV. Wee white polar cap on Mars with scant dark markings, and Neptune with its distinct blue colour.

Had my kids have a look. Both were excited about seeing snow on another planet :) Always nice to spot the polar caps.

Having seen their close proximity tonight, I'm really looking forward to their even closer apparition tomorrow night :thumbsup:

Alex.

[Stonius]

Not looking too good for Melbourne at this stage unfortunately. :-(

Pity, It looks like a good one.

If you (or anyone) get some good shots, I'd love to see them posted up here.

Markus

[netwolf]

Alex what EP are you using? I took a look with my c8 and TV 32mm plosl neptune was just a dot and Mars was just barely a disc

[Wavytone]

Fahim 32mm in a C8 ( ie 62X) is not a good choice.

Last weekend in the MK91 at 220X (focal length 3100, eyepiece 14mm) in poor seeing Neptune was a very small blue-green disk, just discernible as non-stellar, and Mars was a small red disk with a phase visible, but no discernable markings. Tomorrow night in the MK91 - with 9" aperture - 300-400X will be nice if the seeing will play ball.

So I'd have to say in a C8 you will need a 9mm eyepiece and resolving Neptune will be not easy. I could loan one if you need.

However... we have a family member in serious ill health so at this stage I'd say its 50/50 for me. If I can make it I will set up the MK91 at Pirrima for a little while.

It may not seem like a great spectacle for many but the point is more to bring home to people that this is the real thing, they're seeing it with their own eyes - not a photograph and not (god help us) an "artistic rendering" (sorry Alex).

PS if you do bring the C8 and I'm able to make it, I'll volunteer to collimate it to get the best out of it.

FWIW its clear here and not too windy tonight, so fingers crossed for tomorrow.

[mental4astro]

Fahim,

It really doesn't matter what eyepiece you use - both planets are small, especially Neptune. Neptune won't show much of a disk at all.

Last night EP wise I was using a Hyperion Zoom at 8mm, and I had both planets in the FOV. Both close to the edge of the FOV, but still easy to see both together. Tonight they will be even closer. I'll be using as high magnification as seeing will allow. Last night seeing wasn't great, but 340X was usable. If the same conditions are on tonight, excellent!

Alex.

PS, Nick, no offence taken, though it's a bit rich coming from a grown man who plays with train everyday... :rolleyes::rolleyes: :lol:

[netwolf]

thx Nick thats a fantastic offer but by the time i get home its best for me to setup at home. I may go and join the chaps at the Dural Pony Club which is very close to me, but even that is a stretch. I have two 9mm a TMB clone and vixen lv 5 9. i also have a ES 11mm. But these smaller ones did not get both mars and neptune in the same FOV last night while the 32mm was just right with both near the edge. seeing was not great and there were some ciouds to. My colimation which used to be pefect for years on my c8 seems be fiddely now but i used mars itself to adjust it a bit. Will fine tune tonight. Neptune was not sure it was neptune even at high mag was quiet poor seeing.

Alex not sure how you fit both in fov together with 8mm on your maksutov ?

[mental4astro]

Mate, I agree! But there they were, unless another wee star appeared that resembled Neptune... Or I had a bad curry... I also double checked with Sky Safari, and the star patterns all matched up. :shrug:

Won't be any doubts tonight... hopefully... :rolleyes:

[netwolf]

Alex my skysafari shows them just fitting in 32mm at 2000mm.
there were some nearby stars.

[mental4astro]

I revised my observations and Sky Safari - i did make a mistake with my high power observation. I too couldn't figure out why I was seeing "Neputne" but I had confused it with a star that sat between the two planets. So yes, I too only saw the pair at low power... :rolleyes:

Thanks Fahim for pushing. Made me verify what it was I was looking at. What also threw me off was how sharp that stellar image was. An atrifact of a better quality scope meaning that the image does not break down so readily. Going to have to be a bit more careful.

Alex

[Wavytone]

Looks like I’m good for Pirrima Park this evening :)

[netwolf]

Nick Alex where do you guys park your cars for Pirrima park?

[mental4astro]

We HOPE to be able to park right beside the park itself so We can set up beside our cars or as close as possible.

[Wavytone]

Fahim there is 90 degree parking along the point.

Head for the northernmost end - you should see the harbour bridge.

I will take a folding trolley just in case stuff has to be moved some distance but some question as to when I'll get there as wife isn't home yet :(

[netwolf]

Not sure yet guys my daughter is under the weather so may not be able to go out. I will setup at home i think at this stage. What time do you guys plan to be there and for how long.

[netwolf]

Seeing for me maxed out at my ES 11mm 82deg EP which was nice sharp and bright. my Vixen 9mm was just ok. The wind did not hell matters so was only out there just over an hour. how did you guys fair out there.

[Wavytone]

Ah we were on the west side of Pirrima park with a big cliff acting as a windbreak but the sea breeze was nevertheless very unpleasant. As usual the two maks tolerated poor conditions remarkably well.

Alex wound his mak up to 380X on Mars... I left mine at 220X (SSW 14mm) which fitted Mars and Neptune nicely. Didn't see much point in more - as Alex's scope showed, no details to see on Mars.

We had just one passerby stop for a look then finally a party group from one of the smaller cruise boats stopped by.

Packed it in after 9 but had a very slow run home - RBT squads literally blockading every exit out of the city and off the harbour bridge - the Pacific Highway was down to 1 lane.