As noted elsewhere, I fixed up the Edmund 4001 special OTA and got it on a mount last week, giving me an f5 OTA. I also picked up a Unitron 114 mount for the f7.7 Jaegers, that arrived this week. Although it was cloudy for much of the day, it cleared just before sunset, and I set up both scopes. The 4001 with a 41mm Panoptic, and the Jaegers with a 40mm Celestron Plossl.
Jupiter was the first to become visible, and then I spotted Mercury in the Jaegers, which was easier to pan around with. Once I had it in relation to Jupiter, I was able to get the 4001 pointed in the right direction, and started sweeping back and forth with it. There were still thin clouds on the horizon, giving a rosy glow to the sky that made it hard to find Saturn, but eventually I got it. All three were very close to the edge of the field, so I had to use peripheral vision to see them all at once. In my R/L reversed view, Jupiter was near the top, Mercury on the lower right, and Saturn on the lower left. All were quite small, and I didn't see any moons. Mercury was a dazzlingly bright point in the scope. Jupiter was brighter overall, but more extended. Saturn was very small, with the elongation of the rings just visible.
I tried a few cell phone shots, but it couldn't handle the wide field. Then I went back to the Jaegers, thinking I might be able to at least get Jupiter and Mercury together (Saturn wouldn't quite fit in the same field), but by the time I got the phone lined up, Mercury had set. I think it's time to say goodbye to Jupiter and Saturn for now.
This conjunction has certainly offered quite a few wonderful observing experiences!
Chip W.
