please empty your brain below
It's curious to think how many of the things that you saw last night would have been predictable or plausible back in 2010. Conjunction of two planets? Certain. Lots of cranes around? Quite likely. West Ham in the stadium? Not impossible. Global pandemic? What, really?

I was in the park around sunset last night - right next to the hillocks with the rings and the weird Sputnik thing - but didn't know about this celestial occurrence to have a look. Oh well. I'll chalk this up alongside missing a lunar eclipse in Korea because I forgot to leave the pub in time.

martin | 21.12.20 - 7:13 a.m. | #

I found a spot on the riverside to have a clear view - and then got home in time to find that the conjunction was visible from our balcony, so I was able to point it out to my wife just before the planets set.

Martin | 21.12.20 - 7:27 a.m. | #

So it's a sort of conjunction bubble.

Still Anon | 21.12.20 - 7:37 a.m. | #

Rather annoyingly, as we live in the newest "Dark Skies" area of the UK, if I look to the low southwest all I will see is the lower slopes of Great Shunner Fell.

Putters | 21.12.20 - 7:56 a.m. | #

There’s an even better one in June 7541 (probably; orbital projections aren’t quite certain that far in the future) when Saturn will pass directly behind Jupiter rather than just very close to it.

Mike Scott | 21.12.20 - 8:09 a.m. | #

Slow pleased to get to Winter Solstice, brighter days ahead

John | 21.12.20 - 8:21 a.m. | #

Saw the conjunction last night in Phoenix Park in Dublin, near where I had been out walking my dog. Several astronomers were there and one let me look through his telescope, which made it more impressive.

Charles | Homepage | 21.12.20 - 10:15 a.m. | #

I was going to go to Northala Fields to take a look but:
1) darkness still creeps up on me unawares at this time of year so I left it too late, and
2) buses - not exactly 'essential' travel for Tier 4!

Cornish Cockney | 21.12.20 - 10:46 a.m. | #

I was watching a game of American football on Saturday evening, taking place in Charlotte North Carolina.

In a break from the game, instead of adverts or game commentary, the powerful camera switched to the clear night sky. Jupiter was rather dazzling and Saturn a little dimmer. The ring system was what caught my attention so clearly visible at an angle to the planet.

I do not think the commentators were fully prepared for the shot and mumbled a few words. Twenty seconds and it was all over, to be remembered long after the game because it was all so unexpected.

Kenneth Morton | 21.12.20 - 10:54 a.m. | #

I managed to get a great view of them last night with my bedroom windows facing in just the right direction. I also had a pair of binoculars on hand and was able to see one of Jupiter's moons between it and Saturn.

X-Plaistow | 21.12.20 - 12:28 p.m. | #

Like Martin, I have a nice view from the north bank of the river in Hammersmith with the planets over Barnes (nicely dark thanks to the wetlands, playing fields and Barnes Common beyond. To be honest, given all the hoopla, I expected them to be closer together than they were.

Greg | 21.12.20 - 3:01 p.m. | #











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