Alert: Dec. 1 planet and moon proximity

[Steve Foss]

On the evening of Dec. 1, the waxing crescent moon (14 percent of the moon's surface visible), Jupiter and Venus will all be within 1 or 2 degrees of each other.

There are ample opportunities to capture this at various stages of brightness, since the moon rises late on the morning of Dec. 1 and will set at 7:35 p.m. in full darkness.

Be warned, and have fun! Let's pray for clear skies.

[MARINERMAGNUM]

Thanks for the info Steve. Although I must say my night shooting has ended.

Last time I was gathering up my gear to go out for astro photos,my wife asked me what I was doing,and I told her "I'd really like to get a good moon shot and a clear view of Uranus".

My bruises haven't healed yet.

[Dave S]

It's a good thing I wasn't drinking anything when I read this or I would have sprayed my computer.

Thanks for the laugh MM.

[finnbay]

Quote:

Be warned, and have fun! Let's pray for clear skies.

And let's also hope it isn't 90 below like it was the night of the lunar eclipse!

[Yeti]

Informative and funny...this is such a well rounded place!!!

[Steve Foss]

You guys.

MM, that joke really stinks.

[mmeyer]

You guys.

MM, that joke really stinks.

That was bad Steve! Real Bad!

So does this mean that we have until 7:35 to see this? I'm not sure I'm understanding correctly.

I know what I'll be doing if it is as cold as the lunar eclipse, I'll be getting my cooler and hand warmers ready!

[Steve Foss]

The moon rises just before 11 a.m. on Dec. 1 and sets at 7:35 p.m. on Dec. 1. That's in Ely, BTW, though the time difference for points west in MN won't be too much different.

That means there will be opps to shoot the confluence late in the day toward sunset, when the sky is darkening but not dark, all the way through moonset at 7:35 (when the sky will be pretty much fully dark).

So as soon as the sky darkens enough so the moon and planets are all visible (sometime near sunset), it's time to start shooting. Especially since the difference in exposure between the bright planetary bodies and the sky won't be as harsh before sunset as it will be at full dark.

If it's as cold on Dec. 1 as it was last winter during the eclipse, I'm going to the bar for a birthday drink.

[Dave S]

If it's as cold on Dec. 1 as it was last winter during the eclipse, I'm going to the bar for a birthday drink.

You finally hit drinking age?

[Steve Foss]

Yeah. 29 years old. Again.

[Steve Foss]

Thought I'd bump this to the top in case anyone has clear or partly clear skies tomorrow.

It's calling for partly cloudy up here, so we'll see.

[Jim Almquist]

Right now in Carlton we have clear skies and the moon looks great so now the wait for darkness. I sure am glad that the NWS was wrong in a good way for once.

[Royce Aardahl]

It looks great here in Sauk Rapids

[Steve Foss]

It cleared off about 9:30 a.m. and stayed clear all day, so I have some pics, but it's going to take me awhile to get them posted.

[finnbay]

Steve,

What a birthday present! When we talked this morning it looked like it was going to overcast all day and tonight too. The skies cleared just for you! Did you buy a lottery ticket today?

[Steve Foss]

Steve,

What a birthday present! When we talked this morning it looked like it was going to overcast all day and tonight too. The skies cleared just for you! Did you buy a lottery ticket today?

Dang it! I do play the lotto. It's my retirement plan, after all. Forgot this time, because I was so jazzed about the owl and all the birds today and the moon/planets aligning.

Sigh. Must mean I really AM getting old.