3 Planets, 1 FOV

I was fortunate enough to catch the close gathering of Venus, Mercury,
and Saturn from Monroe, WA. The clouds held off just long enough to get
a great view of this spectacular threesome.

I had the best view through my ETX-60 with a 13mm Nagler. All 3 planets
fit in the field of view, and barley make out the slightest hint of
separation in Saturns rings. The false color on Venus was horrible, but
not matter. The setup was quick enough that I didn't feel bad that the
weather only allowed for 45 minutes of viewing. If had drug out the
Genesis or the 13" dob, I may have left disappointed. I brought my wife
and mother-in-law along. The MIL had never seen any planet in a
telescope before, so tonight, she saw 4 (we snuck over to Jupiter as
well).

Matt Simmons

Pfudrucker wrote:

I was fortunate enough to catch the close gathering of Venus, Mercury,
and Saturn from Monroe, WA. The clouds held off just long enough to get
a great view of this spectacular threesome.

I had the best view through my ETX-60 with a 13mm Nagler. All 3 planets
fit in the field of view, and barley make out the slightest hint of
separation in Saturns rings. The false color on Venus was horrible, but
not matter. The setup was quick enough that I didn't feel bad that the
weather only allowed for 45 minutes of viewing. If had drug out the
Genesis or the 13" dob, I may have left disappointed. I brought my wife
and mother-in-law along. The MIL had never seen any planet in a
telescope before, so tonight, she saw 4 (we snuck over to Jupiter as
well).

I just want to report that I just saw Venus and Mercury, both in a 4.5"
scope at 37x and in my 20x80 binos. No filters
And yes it's 2:30 p.m. and blazing sunlight.

I also saw them - in the binos hugging the horizon 15 minutes before
setting last night - here at 59.5 deg. N they set around 11:30.
Not seen Saturn yet, but will try earlier tonight.

--
I recommend Macs to my friends, and Windows machines
to those whom I don't mind billing by the hour

Pfudrucker wrote:
I was fortunate enough to catch the close gathering of Venus, Mercury,
and Saturn from Monroe, WA. The clouds held off just long enough to get
a great view of this spectacular threesome.

My modest picture of the gang.

http://gaus.unizar.es/galerias/jcarl...on_050625.html

As a curiosity, the picture was taken with a digital camera, using only
the infrared portion of the spectrum.

my modest picture too
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/passion.azur/index9.htm

"Pfudrucker" a écrit dans le message de
oups.com...
I was fortunate enough to catch the close gathering of Venus, Mercury,
and Saturn from Monroe, WA. The clouds held off just long enough to get
a great view of this spectacular threesome.

I had the best view through my ETX-60 with a 13mm Nagler. All 3 planets
fit in the field of view, and barley make out the slightest hint of
separation in Saturns rings. The false color on Venus was horrible, but
not matter. The setup was quick enough that I didn't feel bad that the
weather only allowed for 45 minutes of viewing. If had drug out the
Genesis or the 13" dob, I may have left disappointed. I brought my wife
and mother-in-law along. The MIL had never seen any planet in a
telescope before, so tonight, she saw 4 (we snuck over to Jupiter as
well).

Matt Simmons

While driving back from Colorado last night, I saw Venus and a "star" that
was very close and just northish of it. Was that Mercury?(Reason I ask is
that a good portion of that area of the sky was clouded out)

"Pfudrucker" wrote in message
oups.com...
I was fortunate enough to catch the close gathering of Venus, Mercury,
and Saturn from Monroe, WA. The clouds held off just long enough to get
a great view of this spectacular threesome.

I had the best view through my ETX-60 with a 13mm Nagler. All 3 planets
fit in the field of view, and barley make out the slightest hint of
separation in Saturns rings. The false color on Venus was horrible, but
not matter. The setup was quick enough that I didn't feel bad that the
weather only allowed for 45 minutes of viewing. If had drug out the
Genesis or the 13" dob, I may have left disappointed. I brought my wife
and mother-in-law along. The MIL had never seen any planet in a
telescope before, so tonight, she saw 4 (we snuck over to Jupiter as
well).

Matt Simmons

Bill Becker wrote:

While driving back from Colorado last night, I saw Venus and a "star" that
was very close and just northish of it. Was that Mercury?(Reason I ask is
that a good portion of that area of the sky was clouded out)

Most likely, if you by "northish" mean along the horizon, that is,
to the right of Venus.

--
I recommend Macs to my friends, and Windows machines
to those whom I don't mind billing by the hour

Pfudrucker wrote:

I was fortunate enough to catch the close gathering of Venus, Mercury,
and Saturn from Monroe, WA.

I drove 40 miles Saturday to get up in a tower above the trees.
The light pollution was so bad that only Venus was visible by
naked eye (about 70 minutes after sunset). I could easily see
Mercury grouped together with Venus in binoculars, but did not
find Saturn this time. I only had a few minutes before they
set into a cloudbank. Mercury was bright enough in binoculars
that I was surprised not to get Saturn at all,

Pretty cool, even though I only got two this time. Perhaps
tonight.

--
Glenn Holliday

"Uwe Schürkamp" wrote in message
...


That is a very nice shot, indeed, very "moody" with the clouds and
all. Thanks for sharing!





Those moody clouds have kept me from seeing it.............






















Allan


--
Only A Gentleman Can Insult Me And A True Gentleman Never Will

""Anders Eklöf"" wrote in message
...
Most likely, if you by "northish" mean along the horizon, that is,
to the right of Venus.

Yes. Thanks, Anders.

PS: It's been many a year since my last Mercury sighting.

"Glenn Holliday" wrote in message
...
Pfudrucker wrote:

I was fortunate enough to catch the close gathering of Venus, Mercury,
and Saturn from Monroe, WA.

.................................................. ....................................

Pretty cool, even though I only got two this time. Perhaps
tonight.

--
Glenn Holliday

Saturday, using 10" / 1600 Dob / 2" 40mm eyepiece for 40x, I could get all
three in the field of view. Sunday, Saturn was too far away from the other
two. Monday evening, Saturn will be about 2.5 degrees below Venus, and
Tuesday evening make that about 3.5 degrees.