[SADXA] Non Ham astronomy

[Tom Kramer]

In case you haven’t heard of this.  Copied from Spaceweather.com  NQ7R


SUNSET SKY SHOW: Readers, if you have not been paying attention to the early evening sky, please start. The two brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, are converging in the west for a spectacular side-by-side conjunction. Photographer Cat Connor sends this picture from Mammoth Lakes, California:



"The sight of Venus and Jupiter reflecting in a pond and setting over the Sierra Nevada mountain town of Mammoth Lakes was simply breathtaking," says Conner. "To take the picture I used a Nikon D700 digital camera. A 20s exposure at ISO 6400 revealed not only the bright planets, but also the starry background."

Photographers, take note of those settings, because the sunset sky show is going to continue for the rest of the month. Dates of special interest: On June 18th Venus and Jupiter will be only 6 degrees apart, so close together that they could fit inside the bowl of the Big Dipper. On June 19th, the crescent Moon joins the show, together with Venus and Jupiter forming a bright isosceles triangle in the sunset sky. One night later, on June 20th, the vertices rearrange themselves, forming yet another isosceles triangle. Never has a geometry lesson been so beautiful. 

The nights of June 19th and 20th are good nights to look through a telescope. Even a small telescope will show you the fat crescent phase of Venus, the cloudtops and largest moons of Jupiter, and the rugged terrain of Earth's own Moon. Swing your optics around the triangle for a fast-paced heavenly show. 

The main event occurs on June 30th. On that night, Venus and Jupiter will be a jaw-dropping 1/3rd of a degree apart--less than the diameter of a full Moon.  You'll be able to hide the pair behind your little pinky finger outstretched at arm's length. Mark your calendar and enjoy the show!