I am so pleased. I found a very nice horizon for tonight’s sunset event, and it is in a safe and comfortable location! It is near the edge of a pretty little pond full of serenading frogs and surrounded by a small field that includes wild rabbits and killdeers. There are a couple of streetlights in the near vicinity; fortunately, they are a timer that turns them off and on every so often. I’ll be visiting this special spot often.
Watching tonight’s conjunction was so enjoyable. The weather was perfect – just enough of a light breeze to keep the mosquitoes away – and the sky was very clear. The pink and red hues of the sunset were gorgeous, especially when that thin crescent moon suddenly appeared in the still-blue region just above; and then of course, Mercury and Pleiades added perfect sparkle as the sky grew darker. Several distant airplanes passed through, adding occasional luminous trails to the view. I even managed to capture one crossing directly in front of the moon.
As I stood there, watching and waiting, I couldn’t help but think of the friends that I’ve made lately and how many of them were probably standing outside their own homes that very moment, feeling the same way that I do about the night sky. I thought about the way that those friendships formed across so many miles through one common passion – astronomy – and how those friendships have been my single most valuable resource in my own pursuit of astronomy. I could read a thousand books, visit a hundred websites, own all the astronomy tools in the world, but without those friendships – that sharing of experiences, knowledge, and excitement – astronomy just would not be the same for me. I would be just as curious and have that same feeling of wonder, but the pursuit would be almost mechanical and certainly lonely. Being alone with the stars is one thing – in fact a marvelous thing – but having no one with whom to share that oneness … well, I think it would take the heart and soul right out of astronomy, for me.
This is a meager offering (I wish I were a better photographer) but these pictures of tonight’s conjunction are for my astronomy friends – for all that you give simply by sharing your passion with others, and for allowing me to share with you. (You can click the images for the full-sized versions, and click the x in the bottom-right corner to close.)
