Conjunction: Moon - Mars
Moon: Waning Gibbous (67.4%), rose at 1:36 AM ADT
Identified, Not Observed: Aquila, Teapot asterism in Sagittarius
Location: on way home from St. Croix Observatory (SCO)
Date: 2018-05-06
Time: 2:30 AM ADT
Instrument: Visual
Transparency: Excellent (5)
Seeing: Excellent (5)
Temperature: 8º C
Very little wind and clear skies.
The Moon rose earlier last evening but we did not notice it while out at SCO. Once we turned onto the road that led to Hwy 101, it was just above the horizon. Once on the 101, the Moon was right in front of us. Jerry noticed a "star" below it that was too bright to be a star. He was correct - it was Mars! The distance between was about x3 the diameter of the Moon or approximately 2.5º apart.
When we arrived home, Mars could be easily seen visually below the Moon.
Jerry went out onto the front lawn and took a photo; I sketched it.
©Jerry Black. Nikon D800, ISO 160, 1/13 Sec @ f/25 |
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