The conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn: astronomical event of the year

Composition of the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn , with the Moon. Credit: Daniel López and Alfred Rosenberg/IAC

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12/23/2020

Authors

The astronomical event of the year took place on December 21st, a very close conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn which was broadcast on Internet in the channel of astronomical events Sky Live TV and the Cultural Section of Astronomy Cassiopeia of the University of La Laguna on the 20th and 21st from the Teide Observatory. Images and videos of the conjunction were taken, and they are detailed in this press release.

- Sky Live broadcast: https://youtu.be/NdpNfUiMFO0

Broadcast from the Cultural Section of Astronomy Cassiopeia: https://youtu.be/koxLH4Y8Kr8

Un cielo totalmente despejado y un clima frío, aunque sin viento permitió una observación en buenas condiciones. — A completely clear sky and cold weather but without wind allowed observation in good conditions. Credit: Daniel López/IAC.

La instrumentación utilizada fue un telescopio de 26cm de apertura, una cámara de 16 megapíxeles y una rueda de filtros (LRGB). Se tomaron miles de imágenes de 10ms a unas decenas de 20s para poder mostrar los detalles del brillante Júpiter hasta la extremadamente débil luna de Saturno Hiperión (Mimas y Encélado quedaron ocultos por el brillo de Saturno). — The instruments used were a telescope of apertura 26 cm, a camera of 16 Megapixels, and a filter wheel (LRGB). Thousands of images of 10ms exposure were taken, and some tens of images of 20s exposure to bring out the details on the bright planet Jupiter down to the very faint moon of Saturn Hiperion (Mimas and Enceladus were hidden in the glare of Saturn). Credit: Daniell López/IAC

Videos:

1. Timelapse of the profile of the Teide Observatory and the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn

Timelapse sequence during the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn after sunset on December 21st over the Teide Observatory. You can see the moons Callisto and Europa at either side of Jupiter (the brightest object) and Titan close to Saturn (the second brightest object). Io and Ganymede, close to Jupiter are almost occulted by its glare. The relative displacement between the planets is just about along the line drawn by the Galilean satellites of Jupiter. Credit: Daniel López

Link: https://youtu.be/7Z9sgmsgWyw

2. Timelapse of the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on December 21st, with enhancement.

In this sequence, with more detail, and following the planets, you can now see the four Galilean satellites of Jupiter (Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto) as well as Titan and Rhea on either side of Saturn. Credit: Daniel Lopez/IAC.

Link: https://youtu.be/CICyl3KHo4o

Timelapse, December 21st following the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn.

The low position of the planets after the Sun had set did not let images of such high quality to be taken as when they were higher in the sky. In this sequence they are situated between the domes of the Optical Ground Station (OGS) and GREGOR, the largest solar telescope in Europe. Credit: Daniel López/IAC.

Link: https://youtu.be/4dejRpHGlNw

4. Timelapse on December 21st of the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn above a panorama of the Teide Observatory.

Sequence of the planets at maximum conjunction above a panorama of the Teide Observatory.

Link: https://youtu.be/bibOuJqNfDU

5. Timelapse of the conjunction on December 21st of the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn above the profile of the Teide Observatory.

This sequence was in fact made on December 19th, and allows us to see how the planets had moved from one night to another with respect to the stars and to one another, as well as the variation of the positions of their moons. Credit: Daniel López/IAC.

Link: https://youtu.be/cwKJDsJkr6s

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