Sky Watch Friday #19: Missed it by That Much!

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"Waxing Crescent"
Raleigh, NC - December 2008 (Click to embiggen)

"Heavenly Bodies - Venus & Jupiter"
Raleigh, NC - December 2008 (Click to embiggen)

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This pair of shots has a sad story behind it. On December 12 2, 2008 we had the rare opportunity of seeing the moon accompanied by Venus and Jupiter all in close enough proximity to get them all in one family photo. I noted this celestial oddity at the time, but had an appointment to get to and as a consequence I didn't have a chance to get the shot that night.
I didn't worry too much, since I knew that there were several clear nights in the forecast and I would certainly have the opportunity on the following night.

Correction: I misread the date on my photo when I wrote this post. These shots were taken December 2, not December 12. December 12 was the full moon that I thought was going to give me the illumination I needed for my night shot of Yates Mill. Which it didn't. So both nights turned out to be frustrating, but for different reasons. (Thanks Lew!)

Had I known then what I know now I would have postponed the appointment or taken the shot before leaving for it. Because by the following night the moon's orbit had carried it far enough away from the planets that once a shot containing all three of them was framed, the planets were too small to be visible. This configuration will come again, but not in my lifetime. These three objects occupy an area this small only once every 50-odd years, so by the time they get together again even my children will be too old to take the shot. And in any case, I won't be around to see it if they get it.
But with the help of the longest lens I have, I was able to get a shot of the planets by themselves that has enough resolution to be able to tell which is which. It's not the shot I wanted, but it's cool. And of course, the moon is always good camera fodder.

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