22 February 2023 Moon-Venus-Jupiter Conjunction

[Christopher K.]

On Wednesday 22 February there will be a beautiful conjunction of the Moon with the planets Venus and Jupiter. The suggested viewing time is 6:15pm to 7:45pm and HRPO personnel will host public viewing at the Burbank Soccer Complex during that time (the western horizon at HRPO is not low enough for this event).

The three objects will be setting--Venus and Jupiter in Pisces, the waxing crescent Moon (2.75 days old) in Cetus. Venus will be within seven-and-a-half degrees of the Moon at their closest, and seven-and-a-quarter degrees from Jupiter at their closest. The Moon and Jupiter will be within one-and-a-quarter degrees at their closest.

[Christopher K.]

Sunset will be at 5:57pm CST.

Below is the NOAA forecast for the planned conjunction viewing time of 6:15pm to 7:45pm...
precipitation potential, 4%
sky cover, 80%
relative humidity, 76%
temperature, 24˚C
surface wind, S 35 km/h
Danko's Clear Dark Sky states that during the viewing time the transparency rating will be "too cloudy to forecast" (0 out of 5) and the seeing rating will be "bad" (1 out of 5). HRPO personnel will stay at the Burbank Soccer Complex until at least 7pm to attempt a view of the conjunction. Twilight ends at 7:19pm CST.

The 22 February 2023 twilight rating is...
EXCELLENT
VERY GOOD
GOOD
FAIR
POOR
BAD

[Christopher K.]

There were a lot more clouds. Scott, Roz and I saw the Moon and Jupiter but not Venus. A mom and her two little kids came to look.

There was better luck elsewhere, as shown by this 25 February 2023 APOD...
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230225.html

[Christopher K.]

Venus and Jupiter conjunct periodically. Today's APOD shows astrophotographer Marek Nicodem's daughter posing in front of Venus and Jupiter during the planets' March 2012 meeting. These perspective shots are clever although a little tricky.

6 March 2023 APOD:
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230306.html