Sunday, July 15, 2012

6 Objects Conjunction

Rare 6 Celestial Conjunction
SPECTACULAR 6 OBJECTS CELESTIAL CONJUNCTION
Sunday July 15th 2012 4:19:53 local Taipei time

 This is a rare recorded image of the Moon, Venus, Jupiter, Aldebaran, Hyades, and Pleiades Cluster, Conjunction as seen next to the second tallest skyscraper in the world - Taipei 101.

All six celestial objects moved together on the morning of July 15th 2012. Seen on the original to the right is the Hyades Star Cluster (see map for Aldebaran and positioning).

Imaged at 4:19:53 am and shot with ISO 1,600 at f/2 with a one second exposure. The Canon PowerShot S95 has a CCD element and a 28mm lens. Although imaged before sunrise in darker skies, the great sensitivity of the CCD element collects sky glow, pre dawn light, and light pollution, creating a spectacular view including full visible clouds and a bright blue sky looking like daytime with a city skyline! This image was taken at the right moment, just when the clouds cooperated by making a clearing for the mentioned celestial objects. This event marks the first conjunction viewed with a combined set of 2 planets (Jupiter and Venus), 2 star clusters (the Pleiades and the Hyades), the Moon and a bright star (Aldebaran) in the Hyades Star Cluster in the constellation Taurus the Bull. Also visible but farther away is a bright star near the zenith.

Star map from John Walker's "Your Sky"
Star Map prior to the actual event shows the Moon in a slightly higher position. From top to bottom, the Pleiades, Moon, Jupiter, Hyades, Aldebaran, and Venus. Adapted from Your Sky by John Walker.

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