Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter - December 2006


Animation of Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter.

The short animation shows the planets Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter and their movement in the morning sky over five mornings.  On December 10, the planets made a striking scene when they were less than a one degree apart.

 
 
 
 
 
 


Date(s)

6:27 AM MST, 12/13/2006
Mead, Colorado

Exposure Data

1/4 second
ISO400

Optics and Camera

Nikon D70s
18-70mm F3.5-4.5 G

Processing Tools

Photoshop CS
Image of Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter on the morning of December 13, 2006.

Three mornings after closet approach.  Mercury continues it move towards the horizon.  Jupiter is widening the gap between itself and Mars.  The planets in order from top to bottom are Jupiter, Mars, and Mercury.

 
 
 
 
 
 


Date(s)

6:27 AM MST, 12/12/2006
Mead, Colorado

Exposure Data

1/4 second
ISO400

Optics and Camera

Nikon D70s
18-70mm F3.5-4.5 G

Processing Tools

Photoshop CS
Image of Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter on the morning of December 12, 2006.

Two mornings after closet approach.  Mercury is now rapidly leaving the morning sky leaving Jupiter and Mars behind.  The planets in order from top to bottom are Jupiter, Mars, and Mercury.

 
 
 
 
 
 


Date(s)

6:27 AM MST, 12/10/2006
Mead, Colorado

Exposure Data

1/4 second
ISO400

Optics and Camera

Nikon D70s
18-70mm F3.5-4.5 G

Processing Tools

Photoshop CS
Image of Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter on the morning of December 10, 2006.

The morning of closest approach.  The planets in order from top to bottom are Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter.

 
 
 
 
 
 


Date(s)

6:27 AM MST, 12/09/2006
Mead, Colorado

Exposure Data

1/4 second
ISO400

Optics and Camera

Nikon D70s
18-70mm F3.5-4.5 G

Processing Tools

Photoshop CS
Image of Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter on the morning of December 9, 2006.

One day before closest approach.  The planets in order from top to bottom are Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter.

 
 
 
 
 
 


Date(s)

6:27 AM MST, 12/08/2006
Mead, Colorado

Exposure Data

1/4 second
ISO400

Optics and Camera

Nikon D70s
18-70mm F3.5-4.5 G

Processing Tools

Photoshop CS
Click here to see a larger view of this image.

Two days before closest approach.  The planets in order from top to bottom are Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter.

This page was referenced in the Astronomy Picture Of the Day (APOD) for December 9, 2006 as the link "before sunrise".


12/31/2011