Saturn,Venus & The Moon Conjunction...

[chicagoastronomer]

T-Minus 1 Day and Counting for the Tight Conjunction of Saturn, Venus and the Moon
17 June 2007


I ventured out to the lakefront to capture the trio of Saturn, Venus and the Moon in their close and tight conjunction the day before the event.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/PowerShot%20S3/SaturnVenusMoon3_filtered.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/PowerShot%20S3/Crescent1_filtered.jpg

The full narrative and many more pics can be found here:

http://astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Astrophotraphy&thread=1182188964

Unfortunately, the closest they will come together will be this evening, and we are expecting storms. But the Chicago Astronomers will be gathering tomorrow for a day-late observation session.

[chicagoastronomer]

One shot of the Close Encounter
18 June 2007

Storm clouds were brewing around Chicago this evening, dampening hope of observing the closest approach of the two planets and Moon. Peeking from time to time proved dissapointing, but there were breaks in the western skies. Maybe I could grab a quick shot. And it was to be.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/josephguzman/PowerShot%20S3/SaturnMoonVenus1_filtered1.jpg

As predicted, the crescent Moon slides between Saturn and Venus for a nice portrait. Note the distance the Moon travels in a 24 hr period from the first image of yesterday to this evenings.

Nothing dramatic and the quaity not all that good, but at least the event peeked from behind the departing cloud cover and lingering haze for a bit.

It is now quite clear overhead... :P