Aquarellia
sage
Reged: 10/27/12
Loc: Val d'Issole, Provence, France
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Mars - Mercury conjunction
#5670599 - 02/09/13 11:59 AM Attachment (53 downloads)
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This February 8th between 17h and 18h (UT) I wanted to watch an unusual planets conjunction and set, Mars and Mercury separated by only 15'. This could be seen through the long and wide belt of Venus. I found a place with 360° free to any obstacles - 500 meter altitude. North we see clearly two winter sports resorts and South the Porquerolles Island and its lighthouse - 2 x 10 sec, so... the "M" morse letter, to celebrate our two planets M.. ?
It was cold (for a provencal guy) because of the wind, I still observed one hour. Some pictures with my little camera and two quick sketches, a complete landscape and an eyepiece vision, in order to be ready to make a watercolour, the day after.
Mercury was bright, clearly visible with a white light. Mars was 8 times less light but very red. No details with my reflector 100/500, plus an eyepiece K12mm. We can just imagine the disc-shaped appearance of the two planets. Mercury was gibbous, almost full, and very close the tiny and still very red planet.
Clear sky to you all !
Edited by Aquarellia (02/09/13 12:00 PM)
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Jef De Wit
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/06/09
Loc: Hove, Belgium
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Re: Mars - Mercury conjunction
[Re: Aquarellia]
#5670641 - 02/09/13 12:25 PM
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Just beautifull 
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Special Ed
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/03
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
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Re: Mars - Mercury conjunction
[Re: Jef De Wit]
#5671279 - 02/09/13 07:31 PM
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Michel,
Thanks for sharing this lovely watercolor (and view) with us.
It is interesting to note that while Mercury is next to the Sun (and relatively close to us), Mars is in its orbit all the way on the other side of the solar system past the orbits of Mercury, Venus, and our own Earth.
Mars will reach conjunction 17 April 2013 and won't reach closest approach to us until 14 April 2014. Mars observers are looking forward to the Red Planet coming back for the next apparition, but we'll have to be patient a while longer.
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hbanich
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 06/17/05
Loc: Portland, Oregon
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Re: Mars - Mercury conjunction
[Re: Aquarellia]
#5671334 - 02/09/13 07:57 PM
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An excellent, evocative piece - very nice!
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NorthWolf
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 02/23/09
Loc: Montreal Suburb, Canada
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Re: Mars - Mercury conjunction
[Re: hbanich]
#5671505 - 02/09/13 10:19 PM
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Wow, exactly what I saw from here with Mars just a little more in a straight line downwards of Mercury. Mars was very red and Mercury pink-bright white in my binoculars. I wish Mercury was more visible, great looking planet, and 4 times closer compared to Mars. Very nice sketch, thx!
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Andrev
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/08/11
Loc: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Re: Mars - Mercury conjunction
[Re: NorthWolf]
#5671559 - 02/09/13 11:12 PM
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Michel.
Man this is beautiful. Very very well done and attractive. You have lot of talent with water color.
Congratulation.
Andre.
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frank5817
Postmaster
Reged: 06/13/06
Loc: Illinois
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Re: Mars - Mercury conjunction
[Re: Andrev]
#5671574 - 02/09/13 11:23 PM
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Michel,
Who out there doesn't love this watercolor? It really captures amateur astronomy like no other. Frame ang quickly get it on a wall.
Frank 
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Aquarellia
sage
Reged: 10/27/12
Loc: Val d'Issole, Provence, France
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Re: Mars - Mercury conjunction
[Re: Special Ed]
#5673493 - 02/11/13 05:10 AM Attachment (10 downloads)
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Thanks to you all and your kind comments !
Quote:
...It is interesting to note that while Mercury is next to the Sun (and relatively close to us), Mars is in its orbit all the way on the other side of the solar system past the orbits of Mercury, Venus, and our own Earth....
You are 100% right, Special Ed ! Look at the attached map, that's why I was interested to see this cunjunction
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Andrev
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/08/11
Loc: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Re: Mars - Mercury conjunction
[Re: Aquarellia]
#5673677 - 02/11/13 09:28 AM
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Michel.
I posted your sketch on astro-quebec. Good comments there too.
http://www.astro-quebec.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=9891
Andre.
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Chopin
Canis Insanus
Reged: 02/03/05
Loc: In the doghouse.
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Re: Mars - Mercury conjunction
[Re: Andrev]
#5673704 - 02/11/13 09:45 AM
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Michel, astoundingly painted! Nothing approaches astro-image perfection more than a notable observation that also stands as a work of fine art. So aesthetically elegant.
I'm curious, is that Diphda (3419) in the upper left of frame?
Oh, and BTW, additional thumbs up for the illustration of the telescope. 
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niteskystargazer
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/05/09
Loc: 41-43'-28" N 87-42'-39" W
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Re: Mars - Mercury conjunction
[Re: Aquarellia]
#5673950 - 02/11/13 12:18 PM
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Michel,
Very good watercolor of Mars & Mercury .
CS,KLU,
 ,
Tom
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Aquarellia
sage
Reged: 10/27/12
Loc: Val d'Issole, Provence, France
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Re: Mars - Mercury conjunction
[Re: Chopin]
#5673960 - 02/11/13 12:24 PM Attachment (9 downloads)
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Quote:
I'm curious, is that Diphda (3419) in the upper left of frame?
Hello Chopin, thanks for your interest ! Here after the 3 stars that I represented, I'm really not sure about the position of Kapa Aquarius, Situla. So this is not Diphda in Ceti, this star was visible but more south, to the left of my view. Anyway I sow also a small star very close to the planets but to faint to be sure about the position so I don't show it.
About my technique, prior to any water and pigment, I place two small points of "art masking fluid" for the planets, and at the end of my sketch, while dry, I used a fine cutter to take off the pigment for the small stars.
Hope this helps
Kind regards
Edited by Aquarellia (02/12/13 01:43 AM)
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Aquarellia
sage
Reged: 10/27/12
Loc: Val d'Issole, Provence, France
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Re: Mars - Mercury conjunction
[Re: Andrev]
#5673976 - 02/11/13 12:31 PM
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Quote:
I posted your sketch on astro-quebec. Good comments there too.
Andre.
How that's a real honour, thanks André !
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Dave Mitsky
Postmaster
Reged: 04/08/02
Loc: PA, USA, Planet Earth
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Re: Mars - Mercury conjunction
[Re: Aquarellia]
#5675131 - 02/12/13 01:25 AM
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That's a beautiful rendition, Michel.
Dave Mitsky
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Aquarellia
sage
Reged: 10/27/12
Loc: Val d'Issole, Provence, France
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Re: Mars - Mercury conjunction
[Re: Dave Mitsky]
#5678861 - 02/14/13 06:58 AM
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Thanks Dave !
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JimPie
sage
Reged: 11/10/07
Loc: S.E.Michigan
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Re: Mars - Mercury conjunction
[Re: Aquarellia]
#5679488 - 02/14/13 01:32 PM
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Michel,
Beautiful watercolor of conjunction and landscape!
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