Venus, Saturn, Mercury conjunction later this month

[iceman (Mike)]

Between the 25th-27th of June, there'll be a spectacular conjunction of Venus, Mercury and Saturn, low in the western sky shortly after sunset.

So make sure you've got access to an unobstructed western horizon - it will make for a great photographic and visual event.

The planets are closest (in a circle) on the 25th June, and on the 27th, Venus and Mercury will be stunningly close (7 arcminutes).

See animation and more details here:

http://www.aaa.org/aaawhatsup0506.htm

Can't wait to see what some of our astrophotographers get out of this event!

[ving (David)]

oh yeah! take pics pplz!
want to see pics!

my west is er.. clutered

[iceman (Mike)]

My west is cluttered too, but i'll be making a roadtrip to get a good view of this one.

[Greg Bryant]

Mike,

The actual tightest circle of Venus, Mercury, and Saturn, is on Sunday June 26th. It occurs just before 11hr UT, which is 9pm in Eastern Australia.

Interestingly, if you look over a ~ half-century period from 1970 onwards, there is only one other planetary trio gathering that's closer. That occurs in December of next year, and involves Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter. It's slightly closer to the Sun, the overall brightness will be a bit fainter...and it's a pre-dawn event.

This month's gathering is more fun!

Of course, with these types of events, it's best to begin following the planets several days/weeks earlier, and watch as they get closer. Besides, cloud cover on the key night in question has been know to spoil the rarest of celestial events!

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Plus the moon won't be up until 10:00pm so it'll be nice and dark. Unfortunately they set by 6:15 here in SE QLD

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

Someone make sure to take pictures...lucky me will be in Japan!

I am pretty sure that I will not be able to see anything in Tokyo...

[iceman (Mike)]

Thanks Greg, perhaps I was quoting the time in the USA (the website I was using was a US site).

Where are some good western horizons on the central coast?

[Greg Bryant]

Mike,

Many moons ago, I used to do plenty of observing from near Mt. White. It had good horizons, but maybe not conducive to a large [planetary] gathering.

You're a member of the Northern Sydney Astronomical Society? Another NSAS member has a property at Mt White that has a brilliant western horizon...it's also home to a 36 inch dobsonian. I was there last year as a guest of the NSAS when comet C/2001 Q4 (NEAT) was visible. An amazing sight.

Funny thing was that member's driveway was literally right next to the clearing from which I clocked up many hours observing during the 1990s. When I was to later discover who was next door....arghhh!

[gaa_ian (Ian)]

Well looks like Sunday June the 26th will have to be another observing night here in the NT! We will do our best to get some Images too.