# The Jupiter Saturn conjunction! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 21, 2020, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jupiter-saturn-conjunction/928581 "2020-12-21T23:36:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jupiter-saturn-conjunction/928581/41 "2020-12-22T18:18:01Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > You’re right. [https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/details/lenses/ef/super-telephoto/ef-800mm-f-5-6l-is-usm](https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/details/lenses/ef/super-telephoto/ef-800mm-f-5-6l-is-usm) > > I just didn’t think it through. 30 inches wide? LOL. Not a photographer, obviously, but if I’m reading the wiki right, f/5.6, means the entrance pupil diameter is 142 mm or so. Which sounds like a wee bit more light than my 5 mm entrance pupil binoculars are gathering. I wonder how long the exposure had to be? Here’s someone shooting with that lens: [![](https://www.ephotozine.com/articles/when-the-monster-canon-ef-1200mm-f-5-6l-usm-lens-came-to-park-cameras-in-burgess-hill--30691/images/Canon-1200mm-Park-Cameras-Chris-Reszke.jpg) ](https://www.ephotozine.com/articles/when-the-monster-canon-ef-1200mm-f-5-6l-usm-lens-came-to-park-cameras-in-burgess-hill--30691/images/Canon-1200mm-Park-Cameras-Chris-Reszke.jpg) Another comparison: [![](https://www.canonwatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/1200.jpg) ](https://www.canonwatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/1200.jpg) You can actually rent it [for about $460/week](https://www.lensrentals.com/rent/canon-800mm-f5.6l-is). ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jupiter-saturn-conjunction/928581/42 "2020-12-22T18:30:25Z")
We were pretty much socked in here in the Philly region, but Jim Wright of Stonekettle Station got an incredible shot from Florida. > **[Jim Wright](https://www.facebook.com/Stonekettle/posts/3630124563689587)** > > That's it, that's my shot. > > Jupiter and Saturn at conjunction. > > Little hazy here, high altitude clouds. Made for a nice sunset but it's just enough to fuzz the focus out a bit. Otherwise I would... ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2020, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jupiter-saturn-conjunction/928581/43 "2020-12-22T21:19:30Z")
I should mention that my friend’s picture is a composite of two shots, one exposed for Jupiter, one for Saturn. Mr. Wright apparently didn’t think of that, since the details on Jupiter are blown out. (Not that I could have done anything remotely as good as that!) ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jupiter-saturn-conjunction/928581/44 "2020-12-23T00:11:34Z")
Was able to see them tonight (just a few minutes ago, around 1800 CST). Had to walk around to find a spot where (single or 2 story) houses didn’t block the view. Too lazy to drag out my scope, but did get a pretty good look through my 8x42 binoculars . Brian ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jupiter-saturn-conjunction/928581/45 "2020-12-23T02:18:16Z")
Yes, that helps. Galileo also had dark skies helping him. I’m in town, and I thought about driving out into the country to get darker skies, but the weather didn’t cooperate. I’ve been looking at Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars in the evening most of the fall in my backyard. Most nights Jupiter looks like a gray dot, Saturn a gold oval, and Mars an orange blob. One clear night, though, I could make out Saturn and its rings distinctly. I was using a 4mm Plossl, so 75x magnification. I’m toying with buying mirrors and building a better scope from a sonotube… ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jupiter-saturn-conjunction/928581/46 "2020-12-23T04:09:56Z")
sigh cloud cover and snowfall the last three nights. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jupiter-saturn-conjunction/928581/47 "2020-12-23T04:29:04Z")
Here’s a quick shot from tonight with my cell phone through my telescope’s viewfinder. [https://scontent.fatl1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/132424221\_10157955030808108\_7417696091399054379\_o.jpg?\_nc\_cat=104&ccb=2&\_nc\_sid=730e14&\_nc\_ohc=JZYK3Z\_hVucAX8q9uZt&\_nc\_ht=scontent.fatl1-2.fna&oh=213a0ba8df38e1c6fa33f5c69f621e20&oe=600856ED](https://scontent.fatl1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/132424221_10157955030808108_7417696091399054379_o.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=2&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=JZYK3Z_hVucAX8q9uZt&_nc_ht=scontent.fatl1-2.fna&oh=213a0ba8df38e1c6fa33f5c69f621e20&oe=600856ED) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jupiter-saturn-conjunction/928581/48 "2020-12-23T05:07:36Z")
I hauled my spotting scope out tonight and got a good view of Jupiter’s moons, but Saturn was still just an oval. Unfortunately with curfew being at 7 PM I don’t have the option to drive out to where light pollution is less, or stay out til it’s darker. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jupiter-saturn-conjunction/928581/49 "2020-12-23T05:36:27Z")
My picture is obviously not as good as the eyeball view I got through the scope. The rings of Saturn were clearly visible, as was a little of the banding on Jupiter. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jupiter-saturn-conjunction/928581/50 "2020-12-23T16:17:22Z")
Here’s NASA’s APoD on point: > **[APOD: 2020 December 23 - Jupiter Meets Saturn: A Red Spotted Great Conjunction](https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap201223.html)** > > A different astronomy and space science > related image is featured each day, along with a brief explanation. And now, a new and improved conjunction with more ISS: > **[Photographer Captures ISS Passing Between Jupiter and Saturn](https://petapixel.com/2020/12/22/photographer-captures-iss-passing-between-jupiter-and-saturn/)** > > Last night, photographers and stargazers around the world were treated to the Great Conjunction, a event in which Jupiter and Saturn appeared closer to ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jupiter-saturn-conjunction/928581/51 "2020-12-23T22:15:34Z")
Jim got another shot last night. Much clearer sky and this time it’s a composite. You can clearly see 4 of Jupiter’s moons and Saturn’s rings. > **[Jim Wright](https://www.facebook.com/Stonekettle/posts/3634684089900301)** > > Conjunction +1 Day > > Jupiter and Saturn last night (Dec 22, 2020. 1 day after the grand conjunction) from the Florida Panhandle. > > \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ > Composite image (stacked in Photoshop, created from three... ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jupiter-saturn-conjunction/928581/52 "2020-12-23T23:51:00Z")
Agreed! You may not be able to see them in detail, but they are visible if they are on-edge. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2020, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jupiter-saturn-conjunction/928581/53 "2020-12-24T02:00:33Z")
Nice User-name/post combo ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jupiter-saturn-conjunction/928581/54 "2020-12-28T05:52:19Z")
A friend of mine got this picture using a 900mm lens — [[Album] Not my pic! A friend of mine took this, Mr. B. C. ![](https://i.imgur.com/7JxNLtg.jpeg?fb "Not my pic! A friend of mine took this, Mr. B. C.") ](https://imgur.com/gallery/tu31OJI) ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jupiter-saturn-conjunction/928581/55 "2020-12-28T14:47:19Z")
cool. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jupiter-saturn-conjunction/928581/56 "2020-12-28T23:37:13Z")
Now that is an amazing shot! Bravo to your friend. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jupiter-saturn-conjunction/928581.md?page=2)