Planetary Gatherings

Moon, Venus and Jupiter on 1 December 2008

The conjunction, Venus is near the moon. 60mm f/5.9 refractor. 1.5 second exposure (not driven). From Loughshinny, Co Dublin. 1^st December 2008 at 17:36 UT. Earlier that day, during the afternoon, the moon covered (or occulted) Venus.

Mercury and Venus together in the dawn December 2004

Mercury 1° above Venus, just above the trees. Venus was mag -3.9 and Mercury was -0.3. Imaged with a digital camera on the 30^th December 2004 at 07.37 UT from Sandyford, Dublin. 1/2 second at ISO 100.

Planetary Triangle: Venus, Saturn & Mars in May 2002

Taken on 5^th May 2002 showing a Venus, Saturn and Mars (in order of brightness) forming a triangle. The star El Nath (Beta Tauri) is at top. From Dundrum, Dublin.

Taken with a 50mm camera lens camera (detail). 1/2^nd second exposure on Ektachrome 400 slide film.

Mercury and Venus in the dawn October 2001

Taken on the morning of 2001 Oct 31. Fainter Mercury (mag. -0.7) is to the upper left of bright Venus (mag. -3.9), the two planets then were then only a little over a half a degree apart. From Dundrum, Dublin.

Shot with a 50mm camera lens (detail). 1/2^nd second exposure on Fujichrome 200 slide film.