Close conjunction of Venus and Uranus

Posted by

and

June 3, 2017

Composite image of Uranus and Venus on June 2 from Eliot Herman. You can see just a hint of Uranus’ green color.

Eliot Herman in Tucson told EarthSky:

Uranus isn’t easy to spot, just below visual range, but with any aid it is there. But, with the breaking dawn, the window to see them here before dawn breaks is short, maybe 30-40 minutes. Just a tiny dot compared to Venus, capturing both with the 2-degree separation.

Jupiter and moon ought to be more impressive on June 3.

Photo captured with a Nikon D800 and Nikon F4 300 mm lens with a 1.7X teleconverter @ ISO 1250, 1 sec exposures with 21 images stacked.

Image just before 4 a.m. in the predawn.

Posted

June 3, 2017

in

Astronomy Essentials

Deborah Byrd

View Articles

About the Author:

Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.