The Moon Has A Date With Saturn In Agust 2024

[refractordude]

Hello there
I have marked my calendar for this. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240821_15_100

[Dave882]

I got extremely excited when I read about this a few days ago…until I realised it’ll be below the horizon for us here in Sydney! :mad2:

[refractordude]

Dave882


Really sorry about that. Wish I could observe from my dark site the LMC and SMC you have there in the South.

[Dave882]

lol it’s all good! I hope you can score some clear skies for the event and if so please send us some pics!!

[Tinderboxsky]

Unfortunately, the close approach under 30”, and even an occultation in some places, is all happening on the other side of the world.

A quick check in Sky Safari suggest a separation of about 9 degrees during the early evening of the 20th and the closest approach of about 5 degrees as the Moon and Saturn are setting in the western sky in the early hours of the 21st.

A shame, as these are fabulous events to experience.

[refractordude]

Hello There


Just got back in from observing the Moon and Saturn conjunction. The 20x80 binoculars did not do well with this observation. They are achromatic binoculars that showed green/yellow colors on the Moon with Saturn out of focus. The 20x80 binoculars are most/best used for DSO at my dark site. Best view came with my Celestron 80mm f11 refractor and a Meade 32mm plossl. The two allowed me to observe both objects at 28 magnification in one focused fascinating frame.