Observing High-lights of MMXX

[michael feist]

My Top Three would be

Chronologically;
January: Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
July-August, Comet Neowise C/2020F3...
November-December : Conjunction Jupiter & Saturn.

In Order of Merit;
1st : Comet NeoWise [wonderful, bright, long-lasting]
2nd: Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
3rd: Conjunction of Jupiter & Saturn [this was slightly demerited by the closest point being lost to cloud]
[Venus amongst the Pleiades, was pretty good, as well.

[No doubt others would include the Opposition of Mars.]

regards maf.

[jeff.stevens]

All fabulous events, Mike.

From my year I would put NEOWISE top of the list, for a number of reasons; it was the first relatively bright comet for a long time, coupled with plenty of time to observe under a period of beautiful weather. That said, most of my observations of this comet were from a north facing upstairs window. Very comfy observing.

Oddly enough I’ll put a second, very faint and challenging observation next, and that is comet C/2019 ATLAS Y1, which I think I tried for after a failed attempt at ATLAS Y4. I’ll pick this because it was challenging, and made using my 25x100 binocular, which I don’t use that often. It was also a comet that I was able to observe move position over the course of an hour, and it settled over a faint star, giving it a false nucleus.

My third I’d pick as Venus in the Pleiades (your post jogged my memory on this, Mike). It was such a strange sight, and for once I managed to capture a photo of it that I actually was relatively please with - more from an artistic perspective than an astronomical one.

I look forward to reading the selections of others - great end of year post, Mike.

Best wishes, Jeff.

[SkyBrowser]

For me -

Comet NEOWISE (even got other half to come out and look, briefly)

The Geminids in the early hours of Dec 14th

Mars at opposition

[stella]

Highlight of MMXXI is spotting USA313.

[RMSteele]

USA313? A highlight or a spylight? Bob

[stella]

Definitely a highlight. In fact a 530km (330 miles) high light.

[RMSteele]

Stella, what did you use to spot this with? Is it a US spy satellite? Happy New Year. Bob

[SkyBrowser]

What sort of magnitude was it?

When I was observing the Geminids, the sky was constantly criss-crossed with satellites! I did try to identify some of them. In the 1960s going out and spotting a satellite was quite a thing!

[SkyBrowser]

Highlight of MMXXI is spotting USA313.

Did you mean MMXXI? Heavens Above is not showing it for this morning, at least not for me to mag 5 and brighter.

[jeff.stevens]

There’s an article on here, and it mentions about amateurs spotting USA313, and presumably ascertaining the orbital path. I think stella is a prolific contributor to these types of observations, if I remember correctly.

Best wishes, Jeff.

[SkyBrowser]

Nice to see somebody is keeping an eye on the Secret Squirrels