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mildlyamusing1
West Hollywood, LA, CA
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since Jul 30 2007

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Jupiter and Saturn
Aug 24 2022 12:28AM more by mildlyamusing1
Tags: LA, Leisure (All tags)

There are very few things in life that surprises me, but I was pretty shocked to realize that you can easily see planets clearly at night without needing a telescope or other magnifying device.

I first started seeing Mars clearly a couple of years ago with its reddish orange hue and confirmed it with the Skyview Lite app (free download on your iPhone or Android).

You can’t see Mars at this time of year because of its current position in its orbit relative to Earth. However, you can see Jupiter very clearly right now; it is very bright and large in the sky after 11pm. Saturn can also be seen but is more faint.


Once you see planets with your bare eyes clearly, like you can Jupiter right now, it kind of freaks you out a bit as evidence that Earth is just a tiny speck in the universe. It really does put things in perspective.




      
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Mr.Horndog
City of San Diego, San Diego, CA
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Aug 24 2022 01:08AM     link to this

Try looking with a telescope, it's incredible.
mildlyamusing1
West Hollywood, LA, CA
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Aug 24 2022 01:53AM     link to this

I have a telescope that I bought years ago when I first moved into my house, but I was never good at using it. I’ll give it a try.

I still think that your ability to see planets so clearly, without any magnification, is insane.







InsearchofStarfish
Santa Ana, OC, CA
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Aug 24 2022 07:42AM     link to this

getting into the whole planets, stars, and universe thing is a cool Lil rabbit hole to go down

unfortunately, my flip-phone does not have cool apps.

also didn't really have a find my phone feature i found more important at the time



jackrabbit33
La Jolla, San Diego, CA
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Aug 24 2022 07:48AM     link to this

Back in late June this year you could see 5 planets in line along the ecliptic at sunrise. They were Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn... all with the naked eye.

Specifically on June 24th the waning moon went into a position between Venus and Mars and all planets appeared in order based on distance from the sun with Mercury close to the horizon just before sunrise.

This "conjunction" was like observing the Solar Systems equivalent to a straight flush.

It is extra cool to see Saturns rings and the moons of Jupiter with a telescope.


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