Our ancient ancestors studied the heavens. They measured and recorded their movements. They gave names to
those brightly sparkling jewels. They formed patterns and stories to keep them at night. They formed reasons and
theories and gave us more reason to seek. We do seek more, and are answered with new theories...
The planets were those strangly moving stars, which would appear oblivious to the background stars. They played
their nightly dances different from the constellations which stayed in formation. They would rise high in the sky,
and fall back again. Others would ride across the sky, glaring at you with piercing stares, sometimes being so
bright as to scare you from behind. Sometimes even making a cameo appearence with the moon!
This is what i like to see, kinda like a family photo. The moon and Venus sharing time and space
together. A distraction from not being able to see the comet McNaught due to
its location in the southern hemisphere!
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An awesome sight I got to see! Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, thats three! Three planets in their closest
approach this year! Bitter cold but strikeingly clear! Jupiter below, Mercury above, A faded Mars to the right of
the others.
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After only a couple of days, Mercury has shown why it is known as the Elusive planet. It also lives up to its
name of 'Mercury' (speedy!). Five days ago the planet was high and bright, hanging out with Venus. Now it is nearly
lost in the glare of the twilite. Saturn has made its presence known. I thought it was Mercury, due to its brightness,
but it wasn't until I downloaded the images onto my computer, that I realized it was Saturn!
And, oh yeah! The cresent moon was watching the whole thing from above!
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Venus has been the highlite of the summer mornings. She has been riding along side of me on my way to work
now for about (3) weeks (ever since the shortening of the days). She has been accompanied the last few days by an
old friend, which visits her a couple of times during her morning and evening trips. The shy planet Mercury is to
the lower left of the brighter Venus, just below the top power wire. The two planets will be visited shortly by
another friend, Saturn, and a very old and tired moon on the morning of August 22. I hope to add that photo soon..
Mars has made another close flyby at the Earth. On the night of October 31st,2005, Mars made a visit nearly as
close as it did two years ago. In this photo, Mars is a guest of the beautiful Pleiades sisters...!
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On the Morning of November 5th, 2004, a beautiful pairing of the planets Jupiter and Venus (Venus being the brighter
of the two).
The close encounter of Venus with the seven sisters of the Pleiades was quite a sight, and even more beautiful with
the light of a near-full moon lighting up the landscape.
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In August of 2003, the planet Mars was to be the closest to earth than it has been in recorded history.
It draws near to about 34,646,000 miles (whereas the sun averages about 93,000,000 miles).
I have one photo taken on August 17th. Pentax k1000, 50mm, f/2, fuji 200, 14 seconds.
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Here are photos of planets in various groupings and lighting. From early morn or eve, and all thru the night.
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Saturn, Mars and Venus appear in this photoshoot wearing their best!
