6 replies to this topic

[MrSyzygy]

Be sure to look to the western skies on the early evenings of Friday, January 31 and Saturday, February 1. There you will find Venus passing Neptune very near the Vernal Equinox, as Saturn threads-the-needle between two bright stars: Phi Aquarii (mag 4.23) and Chi Aquarii (mag 4.99).

 

Also at this same time, the Waxing Crescent Moon will be passing the whole kit-and-caboodle at an illumination of between 10% and 15%—one of the best times to see Earthshine. It will be leaving Aquarius and entering Pieces (IAU boundaries).

 

It should look great with wide-angle binoculars and make for some great captures with cameras.

 

Clear skies!

 

 

[image from Stellarium]

[therealdmt]

Nice, thanks for posting the heads up. Unfortunately, to the west is my worst direction (obstructions, light pollution), but I’ll see what I can see. Venus is definitely in sight for me in the early evenings, so I’m hopeful (clouds permitting)

[quilty]

thx. too from my side. But my sky is bad in all directions. Given up Sat for long time since, too low

[therealdmt]

Thanks to your chart section above and seeing that Neptune was there right near Venus, I went out and had a look for it with my 4" refractor and soon found Neptune. After a bit, in an effort to see Triton, I even set the Dob up on the front lawn, which I usually don’t do as there are streetlights out front but I can only see around some obstructions to west from the front yard. Neptune was a yes, but no definitive sighting of its large moon. Oh well, it was a fun try, and Saturn looked good (seeing was decent). Venus, meanwhile, is finally starting to show nicely as a crescent

[12BH7]

Thank, but yep, west is my worst direction.

[MrSyzygy]

I was able to get a pretty good shot of it this evening. Venus and Saturn are in the first image along with Saturn and the two stars in the second. Tomorrow, the Moon will be closer to Venus.

 

[Canon PowerShot ELPH180]

 

 

[VanJan]

Moon, Venus, and Saturn - 1 Feb. 2025.