This month sees the two largest planets in our solar system approach each other in the sky. Jupiter and Saturn will be just 0.1 degrees apart on Monday the 21st December and this is the closest that these two planets have been in angular separation for 400 years. This is being called the Great Conjunction of 2020.
The problem with observing this conjunction on Monday will be the weather. However, last night we had clear skies here in Neatishead and I was able to take this picture of the two planets low in the south west.
The picture was taken with a Nikon D90 camera at around 4.58pm. The exposure time was 1s at ISO1600 using a zoom lens at 105mm (f/5.6). The lower and brighter planet is Jupiter. If you zoom into the picture you will just be able to see two of its Galilean moons. The separation of the planets is just over 0.2 degrees at this time. The planets are in the constellation of Capricornus. Jupiter is shining at magnitude -2.0 and Saturn at 0.5.
All text and images © Duncan Hale-Sutton 2020
