Missed Conjunctions

It’s been cloudy in the evenings this week even when it hasn’t been raining. So I never saw the great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn last Monday. Tonight, the weather was very different. A beautiful evening, though cold, and a slightly hazy sunset. The re-appearance of Mars above a waxing moon embroidered the pretty skyscape shortly after the 1610 sunset. I set up the camera and spent almost an hour moving and adjusting my tripod, practicing with numb, gloved fingers in the failing light. I chose to take photographs of some of the many people taking selfies while bathed in the golden sunset.

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Then Jupiter made its appearance at 1650. And shortly after, I could also see Saturn with an unaided eye. The camera, and the 900 mm lens, could detect three (perhaps four) of Jupiter’s moons and almost resolve Saturn.

Then it was time for dinner. There was some very good news about a Brexit deal, a gift perhaps, a reward for the altruistic isolations that ensure the health of everyone else.