Upcoming Conjunctions with the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter in May 2011
During the month of May 2011, we're in for a treat as four of the five naked eye planets will be close to each other (what we call a conjunction) in the pre-dawn sky.
To make it even better, the thin Crescent Moon joins the show on May 1st and May 30th/31st, and will be a beautiful sight visually and also present some fantastic photographic opportunities - well worth getting up for!
To find out more about the conjunctions during May, including where and how you can see them, sky charts for key dates during May, how to photograph the conjunctions, and even to learn more about what a conjunction actually is, then head to this article which has everything you need:
We'd love to see your images and read your reports from the event. Please share your experiences in our Solar System forum or on our Facebook page.
Good luck with the weather (it can't be cloudy during the whole month of May can it!??) and make sure you prepare early enough as the dawn light changes rapidly.
Have you decided where you'll view or photograph the conjunctions from?
The good news about these conjunctions is that the weather plays less of a role than normal. While it would be nice to be clear when the Moon is there, the planets will be close all month - and it can't be cloudy for the entire month, right?
Have you decided where you'll view or photograph the conjunctions from?
The good news about these conjunctions is that the weather plays less of a role than normal. While it would be nice to be clear when the Moon is there, the planets will be close all month - and it can't be cloudy for the entire month, right?
Did you just tempt the Gods? Make a bet with Mother Nature?
tomorrow morning there's a nice conjunction of 4 planets with mercury & mars only 0.6 deg apart.taking the binos out for this look lets hope the clouds keep away.....
For Sydneysiders with a good eastern horizon the ISS is supposed to pass through the Venus, Uranus, Mars, and Mercury conjunction, but CdC, Stellarium and Calsky all disagree as to when it happens.
CdC says 5:40 on the 20th
Stellarium says 6:18 on the 20th
Calsky says 5:04 on the 21st
If CdC or Calsky are right, it is just before sunrise. If Stellarium is right the sun is peeking over the horizon.
For Sydneysiders with a good eastern horizon the ISS is supposed to pass through the Venus, Uranus, Mars, and Mercury conjunction, but CdC, Stellarium and Calsky all disagree as to when it happens.
CdC says 5:40 on the 20th
Stellarium says 6:18 on the 20th
Calsky says 5:04 on the 21st
If CdC or Calsky are right, it is just before sunrise. If Stellarium is right the sun is peeking over the horizon.
it went between venus this morning thats all i could see cloud to the east as usual..oh well try tomorrow morning...
I saw Venus, Mercury, Mars and Jupiter this morning just before sunrise. A great sight, and with the crescent Moon approaching in the coming days it'll look even more majestic. Of course it'll probably be cloudy by then... but at least I got to enjoy it today
Have you decided where you'll view or photograph the conjunctions from?
The good news about these conjunctions is that the weather plays less of a role than normal. While it would be nice to be clear when the Moon is there, the planets will be close all month - and it can't be cloudy for the entire month, right?
Well those in NSW on the coast can kiss the event goodbye as an east coast Low is parking itself off the coast. I had picked the prime location and have everything ready to go - was even going to do a timelapse but not to be . Wished i could go somewhere else dry and cloud free. i hope the low moves off real quick..
Well those in NSW on the coast can kiss the event goodbye as an east coast Low is parking itself off the coast. I had picked the prime location and have everything ready to go - was even going to do a timelapse but not to be . Wished i could go somewhere else dry and cloud free. i hope the low moves off real quick..
hasn't the weather been shocking david the past week!!!!! everybody has had enough....
Upcoming Conjunctions with the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter in May 2011
. Wished i could go somewhere else 
