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[Centaur]

Venus will soon make a close angular approach to Jupiter. These two are normally the brightest celestial objects other than the Sun and Moon, so it should be an impressive observational event.

Their least geocentric separation of 33 arcminutes will occur on 2004 NOV 05 @ 01:56 UT. Their elongation west of the Sun will be 34 degrees.

I have created two graphics displaying the pre-dawn eastern sky on November 4 and 5 as viewed from Chicago, although they should be quite useful for observers at most locations. To see them, click:
www.curtrenz.com/astronomical.html

Then click the blue buttons for Venus Passes Jupiter.

The graphics may be removed soon after the event occurs.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Curt,

Thank you for the update, as I had visited your site and learned a bunch prior to this post.

Question tho...

There are four occultations occurring this month by the Moon. We get to see the Moon/Jupiter event coming up, (An upcoming newsletter item), but what about the Venus, Mars and Mercury occultations? I know that New Zealand gets a shot, but what about us up here at 42 degrees North? Will they be close grazes?

Thanks again for your meticulous work, and I shall be placing your November Moon calendar on the site soon.

[Centaur]

Joe --

Among the four occultations of planets by the Moon during November, only the event of the 9th involving Jupiter will occur above the horizon for Chicagoland observers. However, the Sun will also be above the horizon. Nevertheless, details of the event are currently posted on the Astronomical page of my website.

The next really good occultation for Chicagoans will occur during the early morning hours of December 7th. Both the Moon and Jupiter will be above the horizon, while the Sun will be beneath the horizon. I'll be posting a graphic on my website once we get past more immediate events. Below are my calculations for the times that the center of Jupiter will appear to be on the Moon's limb.

Moon Occults Jupiter
As viewed from the Adler Planetarium, Chicago
2004 DEC 07
02:49:57 CST - Immersion
03:54:14 CST - Emersion

-- Curt

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Curt comes thru once again....

I will attempt to observe the November daytime occultation of the Moon and Jupiter, and encourage others who can get out of the day's obligations to join up with me in this session.

More as the event approaches.

It is not your run of the mill observational session!

[Al Degutis]

Since I hadn't done any observing through a telescope since Oct 9th AND the skies were going to be clear for a change, I took that as an omen that I must observe this event. Since my perimeter trees obscure the eastern (and southern and western) horizon I was looking for a good observing location. I asked my neighbor and fellow amateur astronomer (12+ years of experience) where he observed the transit of Venus this past June. He used a small public site about 10 minutes away but suggested we consider using his yard. He didn't observe the transit there because some trees obscured the rising sun on his otherwise open view of the east.

I went there Thursday evening (11/4/04) around 8:30pm CST. We walked the 2 acre property looking for a good, unobstructed view of the southeast. While it appeared that the planets would rise amidst the trees, they would quickly be above their tops. We decided to set up in his yard. As we talked business while standing in the yard, I enjoyed the nice dark, moonless sky. The Milky Way dust lanes were visible as were many, many stars.

My alarm went off at 3:50am (CST) and I hit the snooze and layed there trying to get motivated to get up. Luckily, the fact that Dave would be joining me was all it took. I had placed the telescope and accessories in my truck before going to bed so I just got dressed and headed over. It was COLD out. Before moving the equipment from the truck to the yard, I grabbed my binoculars and checked out the view. The planets were coming up a little further south than we expected and they were still in the trees but nearing the top. I spent a few minutes observing the Orion Nebula and just scanned the skies.

I set up my Meade 8" f/10 LX200 classic telescope and started observing around 4:40am as I waited for Dave. I was not able to get both Venus and Jupiter in the same field of view using my 26mm (1.25") eyepiece. Unfortunately that was the widest view I had. I observed Jupiter and its four moons. Io was very close to the planet. There was a lot of atmospheric turbulense making it difficult to see the bands of Jupiter clearly, but moments of clarity came and went.

Dave joined me around 5:20am, having gone to bed only 4 hours earlier due to a late night work project. When he heard that my 26mm eyepiece didn't bring both Venus and Jupiter into the same FOV, he offered to bring out his University 40mm 2" eyepiece. After switching to the 40mm, both Jupiter and Venus were visible at the same time. Venus waxing gibbous and Jupiter with it's four Galilean moons. After taking turns observing the conjunction, where the two planets where less than 1 degree apart, Dave suggested we observe Jupiter thru his binoviewer. While it takes some getting used to it, using both eyes provided a unique view of Jupiter and its moons. At this point Io had moved very close to Jupiter getting ready to either transit or hide behind the planet (I'm not sure which way it was headed).

The sun was now rising and Dave suggested we observe the Moon while the binoviewer was still attached. Now that was an amazing sight. With the Moon approximately 47% illuminated, the craters at the terminator were impressive especially through the binoviewer. I spent some time observing Clavious and it multiple craters. Dave then pointed out Plato and it's shadows. Now the sun was lighting up the sky so much that Venus, the now barely visible Jupiter and the Moon were the only celestial object to be seen with the naked eye.

I packed up my gear around 6:40am and headed home. It was a great time observing the conjuction of Venus and Jupiter, Jupiter and its moons and our very own Moon in the stretch of 2 hours. I have to thank Dave for the use of his accessories allowing me to see the conjuction of Venus and Jupiter in the same FOV. Plus it was a pleasure sharing the event with such a knowledgeable and friendly neighbor.

[stargazer]

Al

It sounds like you had a good time. I was going to get up for this morning and seeing that I have a cold I couldnt move. But I know it will happen again. I will catch it again later.

Becky
The Asteroid Hunter

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Al,

An excellent account of the conjunction. I observed the pairing early this morning with binoculars, as I did not desire to set up the scope...rather cold.

Although not as close as they were on the 4th, the proximity to each other was indeed stunning. With the 3rd quarter moon above, the dipper to the north, the entire sky was nicely framed for a look.

I only had a few rare opportunities to view through a binoviewer, and it view is always great. The objects targeted now stand out in proper depth, but yes...it does need to get used to. And the constant readjustment to different eyesight is a hassle.

Now...what about the Lunar/Jupiter occultation coming up...any planned observations?