For years I wanted to be an astrophysicist; I even did work experience at a university's School of Physics and Astronomy. I changed my mind when I discovered it wouldn't lead to any sort of profitable career, but it remains a mild hobby. I have, however, given away my 114 mm newtonian reflector, though I used to love looking at in-system stuff through it :) I could see the Galillean satellites and make out Saturn's rings, which was incredible.
For years I wanted to be an astrophysicist; I even did work experience at a university's School of Physics and Astronomy. I changed my mind when I discovered it wouldn't lead to any sort of profitable career, but it remains a mild hobby.
Hey, wicked, me too! Minus the whole university thing.
I have a major in Physics and Astronomy and yep, couldn't find me a job to do with either in Sydney... :S
My lecturers where rather involved in the Oz OSETI project, my project was just as productive but rather less expensive, a bucket in the back yard to catch ET's
WASHINGTON – It's not just families that are getting together this Thanksgiving week. The three brightest objects in the night sky — Venus, Jupiter and a crescent moon — will crowd around each other for an unusual group shot.
Starting Thanksgiving evening, Jupiter and Venus will begin moving closer so that by Sunday and Monday, they will appear 2 degrees apart, which is about a finger width held out at arm's length, said Alan MacRobert, senior editor at Sky and Telescope magazine. Then on Monday night, they will be joined by a crescent moon right next to them, he said.
Look in the southwestern sky around twilight — no telescope or binoculars needed. The show will even be visible in cities if it's a clear night.
"It'll be a head-turner," MacRobert said. "This certainly is an unusual coincidence for the crescent moon to be right there in the days when they are going to be closest together."
The moon is the brightest, closest and smallest of the three and is 252,000 miles away. Venus, the second brightest, closest and smallest, is 94 million miles away. And big Jupiter is 540 million miles away.
The three celestial objects come together from time to time, but often they are too close to the sun or unite at a time when they aren't so visible. The next time the three will be as close and visible as this week will be Nov. 18, 2052, according to Jack Horkheimer, director of the Miami Space Transit Planetarium.
But if you are willing to settle for two out of three — Venus and the crescent moon only — it will happen again on New Year's Eve, MacRobert said.
If you have strong binoculars or a telescope, try looking at Jupiter. You probably won't make out the Great Red Spot, but if you see four small dots around it - all lying in a line passing through the centre of the circle that is the planet - then those are the Galillean satellites, Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.
We should have dug the telescope out but didn't. We have been going out to take a gander. I can see it from my front window so just have to turn my head anyway pretty impressive sight
A Planet alinement over Thanksgiving 
