Watching the moonbeams as evening drew nigh

[sovay]

I just got back inside from confirming for my father that the candle-bright object so close to the rising copper-red moon is in fact Mars; we're in the wrong hemisphere to witness tonight's occultation, but the visual near-miss should still be impressive enough from this latitude that I plan to go out at half past midnight to look for Mars standing above the moon. It was also impossible not to notice when I stepped out into the street that Jupiter was huge at the end of it and so was nearby Saturn. It turns out we are due for a great conjunction this year, on the winter solstice no less and the closest the two planets have been since 1623. I truly hope not to be in too much despair over the state of the world to enjoy the state of the solar system in December.

[edit 2020-09-06 0:46:00] The ruddy bead of Mars over the moon was distinct and visible to the naked eye, whereas the camera freaked out and gave itself a mild case of moon dogs, but fortunately I was not the camera.

Comments

[wpadmirer]

I have a dear friend who's a big astronomy buff. Unfortunately he's reached an age where his large telescope is too big for him to set up, and with the Covid restrictions, he has no one who can do it for him as it would have to be put up and taken down constantly. (sigh)

I hope you enjoy the conjunction and that it precedes some big changes for the good for all of us.

[sovay]

Unfortunately he's reached an age where his large telescope is too big for him to set up, and with the Covid restrictions, he has no one who can do it for him as it would have to be put up and taken down constantly.

Bah. Maybe a friend can test clear and come for major astronomical events.

I hope you enjoy the conjunction and that it precedes some big changes for the good for all of us.

Thank you! Amen!

[niqaeli]

I very much hope you get to enjoy the state of the solar system in December, regardless of all else. That seems like a wonderful thing to enjoy.

[sovay]

I very much hope you get to enjoy the state of the solar system in December, regardless of all else. That seems like a wonderful thing to enjoy.

Thank you. It is actually my intention to enjoy the sky no matter what else is going on, because no matter what else is going on, the sky will still be there.

[julian]

Oh! Gosh. Thank you for the head's up.

[sovay]

Oh! Gosh. Thank you for the head's up.

You're welcome! I hope you were able to get a clear look tonight.

[julian]

Yes! *emits glee*

And also now I have Plans for Solstice. (I mean, I did anyway, but now there's an addendum.)

[sovay]

Yes! *emits glee*

Hooray!

And also now I have Plans for Solstice. (I mean, I did anyway, but now there's an addendum.)

I did not have particular plans for the solstice! But I definitely do now.

[pameladean]

Thank you for this. We are clouded out and expecting non-dire thunderstorms. P.

[sovay]

Thank you for this. We are clouded out and expecting non-dire thunderstorms.

You're welcome. I'm so sorry about your uncompliant weather! Unless you have a drought, in which case, a thunderstorm is probably fair.

[cmcmck]

Rather splendid, that!

[sovay]

Rather splendid, that!

It made me very happy!

[asakiyume]

I wish I had gone out to see this! I'm very thankful that you and nineweaving got photos.

[sovay]

I wish I had gone out to see this! I'm very thankful that you and nineweaving got photos.

I'm glad we can show at least a little of it to you.

[ashlyme]

Gorgeous picture! Three hopes: you get to see the conjunction, that it brings us all some respite, and that it's visible from the UK. I'm optimistic for the first two.

[sovay]

Gorgeous picture! Three hopes: you get to see the conjunction, that it brings us all some respite, and that it's visible from the UK. I'm optimistic for the first two.

Thank you, thank you, and thank you! I wish you the third: I think if you can see Jupiter and Saturn in your night sky now, the conjunction shouldn't do anything weird like fall off the plane of the ecliptic.

[dhampyresa]

Thank you for this! Hopefully light pollution won't be too bad here when I go out in a bit to see it. (Would not have known about this without this post so thank you again!)

[sovay]

Thank you for this! Hopefully light pollution won't be too bad here when I go out in a bit to see it.

You're welcome! I wish you good weather.

[nodrog]

Mars is certainly a Red Planet, isn't he? It was actually more evident two nights later - or now, for that matter - when he stands alone in the heavens.

Astronomy is very comforting.  Our concerns only loom large because they are close - but truly, “Space is big.  Really, really big.”

(We need more DON'T PANIC right now.)

[sovay]

It was actually more evident two nights later - or now, for that matter - when he stands alone in the heavens.

I have always liked the visible colors of the planets. Saturn right now is very gold.

Astronomy is very comforting. Our concerns only loom large because they are close - but truly, “Space is big. Really, really big.”

Well, they also loom large because they are part of our lives in ways that planets generally, unless something has gone wrong with gravity, are not. But I do find the sky comforting, in the same way I find time and the sea. I like things that I know will outlast me.