Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter - December 2006

Animation of Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter.

Image Details

  • ImageReady CS

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.

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

Image Details

  • 1/4 second
  • ISO400
  • Nikon D70s
  • Nikon 18-70mm F3.5-4.5 G
  • Photoshop CS
  • 6:27 AM MST
  • 12/13/2006
  • Mead, Colorado

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.

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

Image Details

  • 1/4 second
  • ISO400
  • Nikon D70s
  • Nikon 18-70mm F3.5-4.5 G
  • Photoshop CS
  • 6:27 AM MST
  • 12/12/2006
  • Mead, Colorado

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.

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

Image Details

  • 1/4 second
  • ISO400
  • Nikon D70s
  • Nikon 18-70mm F3.5-4.5 G
  • Photoshop CS
  • 6:27 AM MST
  • 12/10/2006
  • Mead, Colorado

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

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

Image Details

  • 1/4 second
  • ISO400
  • Nikon D70s
  • Nikon 18-70mm F3.5-4.5 G
  • Photoshop CS
  • 6:27 AM MST
  • 12/09/2006
  • Mead, Colorado

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

Image of Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter on the morning of December 8, 2006.

Image Details

  • 1/4 second
  • ISO400
  • Nikon D70s
  • Nikon 18-70mm F3.5-4.5 G
  • Photoshop CS
  • 6:27 AM MST
  • 12/08/2006
  • Mead, Colorado

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".