Universe Today
Triple planets (Venus/Jupiter/Mercury) conjunction over Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy, France on May 26. Credit: Thierry Legault -
www.astrophoto.fr
Update: See expanded Conjunction astrophoto gallery below
[/caption]
The rare astronomical coincidence of a spectacular triangular triple conjunction of 3 bright
planets
happening right now is certainly wowing the entire World of Earthlings! That is if our gallery of astrophotos assembled here is any indication.
Right at sunset, our Solar System's two brightest
planets
- Venus and Jupiter - as well as the sun's closest planet Mercury are very closely aligned for about a week in late May 2013 - starting several days ago and continuing throughout this week.
And, for an extra special bonus - did you know that a pair of spacecraft from
Earth
are orbiting two of those planets?
Have you seen it yet ?
Well you're are in for a celestial treat. The conjunction is visible to the naked eye - look West to Northwest shortly after sunset. No telescopes or binoculars needed.
[caption id="attachment_102450" align="aligncenter" width="580"]
Triple conjunction shot on May 26 from a mile high in Payson,Az. 4 second exposure, ISO200, Canon 10D, 80mm f/5 lens. Credit: Chris Schur- http://www.schursastrophotography.com[/caption]
Just check out our Universe Today collection of newly snapped astrophoto's and videos sent to Nancy and Ken by stargazing enthusiasts from across the globe. See an earlier gallery -
here
.
Throughout May, the trio of wandering
planets
have been gradually gathering closer and closer.
On May 26 and 27, Venus, Jupiter and Mercury appear just 3 degrees apart as a spectacular triangularly shaped object in the sunset skies - which adds a palatial pallet of splendid hues not possible at higher elevations.
And don't dawdle if you want to see this celestial feast. The best times are 30 to 60 minutes after sunset - because thereafter they'll disappear below the horizon.
The sky show will continue into late May as the
planets
alignment changes every day.
On May 28, Venus and Jupiter close in to within just 1 degree.
And on May 30 & 31, Venus, Jupiter and Mercury will form an imaginary line in the sky.
Triple planetary conjunctions are a rather rare occurrence. The last one took place in May 2011. And we won't see another one until October 2015.
Indeed the wandering trio are also currently the three brightest planets visible. Venus is about magnitude minus 4, Jupiter is about minus 2.
While you're enjoying the fantastic view, ponder this: The three planets are also joined by two orbiting spacecraft from humanity.
NASA's
MESSENGER is orbiting Mercury. ESA's Venus Express is orbiting Venus. And NASA's Juno spacecraft is on a long looping trajectory to Jupiter.
Send Ken you conjunction photos to post here.
And don't forget to "Send Your Name to Mars" aboard NASA's MAVEN orbiter- details
here
. Deadline: July 1, 2013
Ken Kremer
……………. Learn more about Conjunctions, Mars, Curiosity, Opportunity, MAVEN, LADEE and NASA missions at Ken's upcoming lecture presentations:
June 4: "Send your Name to Mars" and "CIBER Astro Sat, LADEE Lunar &
Antares
Rocket
Launches
from Virginia"; Rodeway Inn, Chincoteague, VA, 8:30 PM
June 11: "Send your Name to Mars" and "LADEE Lunar &
Antares
Rocket
Launches
from Virginia"; NJ State Museum Planetarium and Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton (AAAP)
, Trenton, NJ, 730 PM.
June 12: "Send your Name to Mars" and "LADEE Lunar &
Antares
Rocket
Launches
from Virginia"; Franklin Institute and
Rittenhouse Astronomical Society
, Philadelphia, PA, 8 PM.
[caption id="attachment_102458" align="aligncenter" width="580"]
May 25 conjunction over Malta. Canon 450D with a 55mm. lens and an exposure of 1/2 second at ISO 200 on a tripod. Credit: Leonard Ellul-Mercer[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_102456" align="aligncenter" width="386"]
May 26 triple conjunction from Warwick, NY snapped from Canon Rebel, 100mm – 300mm lens. Credit: Pietro Carboni[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_102453" align="aligncenter" width="580"]
Triple conjunction from Hondo, Texas taken with a Nikon D800 @ ISO 400 and a 2 second exposure with a Nikon 300mm Lens at F/4. Credit: Adrian New
[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_102452" align="aligncenter" width="580"]
Sunset conjunction with fast moving clouds on May 26 through 10 x 50 binoculars from a seashore town -Marina di Pisa, Tuscany, Italy. Credit: Giuseppe Petricca[/caption]
Caption: Taken on 2013-05-23 from Salem, Missouri. Canon T1i, Nikkor 105mm lens. 297 1/4s at 1s interval. Images assembled by QuickTime Pro. Credit: Joseph Shuster
[caption id="attachment_102459" align="aligncenter" width="580"]
May 26 sunset conjunction from Princeton, NJ. Credit: Ken Kremer -kenkremer.com [/caption]
[caption id="attachment_102464" align="aligncenter" width="442"]
Triple Planetary conjunction over Onset MA. Shot with a Nikon d7000 1/200 f 4 iso 100 at 110mm. Credit: Phillip Damiano[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_102465" align="aligncenter" width="580"]
Panoramic view over Almada City and Lisbon at the Nautical Twilight, with the Full moon rising above the Eastern horizon (right side of the image), while at the same time but in the opposite direction, the planets Venus, Mercury and Jupiter, are aligned in a triangle formation, setting in the Western horizon (left side of the image).In this panoramic picture is also visible the smooth light transition in the sky, with the end of Nautical Twilight and the beginning of Astronomical Twilight (almost night), at right. Facing to North, is visible the great lighted Monument Christ the King and at the left side of it, part of the 25 April Bridge that connects Almada to Lisbon. Canon 50D - ISO200; f/4; Exp. 1,6 Sec; 35mm. Panoramic of 10 images with about 200º, taken at 21h42 in 25/05/2013. Credit: Miguel Claro - www.miguelclaro.com[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_102467" align="aligncenter" width="580"]
The triple conjunction of Venus, Mercury and Jupiter as seen over an Arizona desert landscape. Credit and copyright: Robert Sparks. [/caption]
[caption id="attachment_102471" align="aligncenter" width="580"]
Jupiter, Venus and Mercury triple conjunction seen here reflecting off Chatsworth Lake in Chatsworth, NJ. Jupiter (on the left) was 2.4° from Mercury (upper-right in the sky) and 2.0° from Venus (bottom right in the sky), while Venus and Mercury were 1.9° apart. Venus was at 2.6° altitude. Canon EOS 6D, 105 mm focal length, 1.3 seconds, f/6.3, ISO 800. Credit: Joe Stieber - sjastro.org/[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_102488" align="aligncenter" width="410"]
Triple conjunction on May 27 with WBZ radio towers south east of Boston. Hampton Hill, Hull, MA. Nikon D3x -iso200- 1.3 sec.at f2.8. Credit: Richard W. Green [/caption]