Photo Opportunity

[The Thing]

The Moon passes very close (~1.5deg) to Jupiter at around midnight tonight.

Hopefully the air will clear in time for some good shots, it's a bit murky here in Beckenham at the moment

[JonH]

It is pretty muddy looking here too, but the forecast says it is going to clear around 9 and will remain so until the early hours.
I hope so anyway!

[Rick]

Clear view from London Bridge station this evening, and just now while I was walking home from Orpington station too. Bit blustery, though.

[MarkS]

Single shot by Canon 600d with Nikon 300mm lens on tripod.
1/400s at F/8  ISO400.

Cropped and scaled down by 1/3:



Here is the moon full size from that same image:



Here is Jupiter full size from that same image (but brightened by a factor of 4):



I was amazed that the dark bands are just visible.

Mark

[MarkS]

BTW, this photo gives the opportunity to measure the relative surface brightness of Jupiter and the moon.  Jupiter is only 5 times dimmer than the moon but it would be 25x dimmer if it were made of the same material (since it is 5x further from the sun and there is a square law in operation).

I conclude that the moon surface is made out of out of some pretty unreflective stuff!

Mark

[Ivor]

I think you're right Mark, When I opened the fridge this morning I can confirm the cheddar in the fridge didn't reflect much light. As the weekend I shall buy a broader range of cheese so I can isolate the true composition.

[The Thing]

BTW, this photo gives the opportunity to measure the relative surface brightness of Jupiter and the moon.  Jupiter is only 5 times dimmer than the moon but it would be 25x dimmer if it were made of the same material (since it is 5x further from the sun and there is a square law in operation).

I conclude that the moon surface is made out of out of some pretty unreflective stuff!

Mark

I believe the average albedo of the moon is only 9%, less than coal.

[MarkS]

I believe the average albedo of the moon is only 9%, less than coal.

Pretty dark!