Heavenly bodies?

[paolo59]

I looked up in the night sky tonight, and saw two bright objects shining like stars. The brightest things in the heavens. Close together. Made Orion, the vaunted hunter, look pale and anemic in comparison. Jupiter and Venus! Just sitting there. Well I guess, hurtling through space as they do. This has been going on for the past week or so. I am amazed. Just reflecting the light of the sun.

Makes one think! It's hard to fathom. We're some 94 million miles away from that star, and I guess Jupiter is another 15 or 20 million farther away yet. Yet it shines. We're but a speck, if that, in this universe. I like to think that the world revolves around me and what I'm doing daily! LOL That's pretty silly when you stop and consider just what's going on all over everywhere, whirling and timeless.

Ha, just a gin and tonic induced musing on a Monday evening!

[Karl_Hungus]

I looked up in the night sky tonight, and saw two bright objects shining like stars. The brightest things in the heavens. Close together. Made Orion, the vaunted hunter, look pale and anemic in comparison. Jupiter and Venus! Just sitting there. Well I guess, hurtling through space as they do. This has been going on for the past week or so. I am amazed. Just reflecting the light of the sun.

Makes one think! It's hard to fathom. We're some 94 million miles away from that star, and I guess Jupiter is another 15 or 20 million farther away yet. Yet it shines. We're but a speck, if that, in this universe. I like to think that the world revolves around me and what I'm doing daily! LOL That's pretty silly when you stop and consider just what's going on all over everywhere, whirling and timeless.

Ha, just a gin and tonic induced musing on a Monday evening!

Funny you mention that ... I was outside just tonight and was surprised at how bright Venus was. I've always really enjoyed astronomy.

[GuyJin]

I thought this thread had something to do with fitness models and porn stars.

Dayum...



However, I always loved astronomy as a kid and still do. I often stare up at the night sky when it's clear, wondering what's out there.

[mrmrbill]

Venus -- she's that Greco-Roman chick w/ no arms, amirite? She was pretty hawt back in the day.

[IronCharles]

Fast forward to 2:10:

[paolo59]

Venus -- she's that Greco-Roman chick w/ no arms, amirite? She was pretty hawt back in the day.

LMAO Brother, she'd have a hard time fighting off your unwanted advances!!!

[geer_matt]

I was just outside (taking the dog for her last bathroom run of the night) and saw them too. Very bright, even from city view. Pretty cool.

[hammerfelt]

I seen them two. Had to stare for a bit to make sure one of them was not an airplane.

[mslman71]

Jupiter and Venus are in conjunction right now. They'll be almost on top of one another (from our vantage point, of course) by Thursday.

[phikappa]

I've been wondering what those two were. Thanks for the info! Also, there's an orange-ish star in the S-SE part of the sky, about two-thirds of the way up. I'm assuming that's Mars?

[KeepItMoving]

I have noticed them too, Paolo. Off in the Northwestern sky. Absolutely beautiful. I have never seen them so bright and "close."

[cozener]

Venus -- she's that Greco-Roman chick w/ no arms, amirite? She was pretty hawt back in the day.

Yeah, but amputees were a much more popular kink back then...

[mslman71]

I've been wondering what those two were. Thanks for the info! Also, there's an orange-ish star in the S-SE part of the sky, about two-thirds of the way up. I'm assuming that's Mars?

Yeah probably. In the early evening you should see mars already risen in the east/SE in the ballpark of 1/2 to 2/3 off the horizon. Almost opposite that (west) you should be able to pick out venus/jupiter.

[crupiea]

[DocHoss]

I've been wondering what those two were. Thanks for the info! Also, there's an orange-ish star in the S-SE part of the sky, about two-thirds of the way up. I'm assuming that's Mars?

Yes, Mars is at opposition right now (meaning opposite the Sun), so it's at its closest approach. Since Earth's orbit is slightly elliptical and Mars's even more so, the closest approach varies between oppositions - this one is not particularly close, a bit over 60 million miles. A really good one is under 40 million miles.

We're some 94 million miles away from that star, and I guess Jupiter is another 15 or 20 million farther away yet.

It's more boggling - Jupiter is on average some 480 million miles from the sun!

FYI, did you know you can see them both during the day? Venus is not that hard if you know EXACTLY where to look (it's easier when the moon is nearby to give you a point of reference). Venus is a startling little point of light, but Jupiter is really tough. I found them both a couple of weeks ago, but could only see Jupiter with binoculars (looks like a ghostly little ball!). I have seen Jupiter without any optical aid, but the sky was too hazy this time.

[paolo59]

Yes, Mars is at opposition right now (meaning opposite the Sun), so it's at its closest approach. Since Earth's orbit is slightly elliptical and Mars's even more so, the closest approach varies between oppositions - this one is not particularly close, a bit over 60 million miles. A really good one is under 40 million miles.



It's more boggling - Jupiter is on average some 480 million miles from the sun!

FYI, did you know you can see them both during the day? Venus is not that hard if you know EXACTLY where to look (it's easier when the moon is nearby to give you a point of reference). Venus is a startling little point of light, but Jupiter is really tough. I found them both a couple of weeks ago, but could only see Jupiter with binoculars (looks like a ghostly little ball!). I have seen Jupiter without any optical aid, but the sky was too hazy this time.

Ha, didn't realize that it was that much farther out! It's just hard to get your mind around. I wasn't aware that you could see them during the day either. Looking up and seeing those two the other night just seemed to put things into perspective somehow. LOL I guess it doesn't change the pressures of the day here, but it will make you think!

[Karl_Hungus]

Ha, didn't realize that it was that much farther out! It's just hard to get your mind around. I wasn't aware that you could see them during the day either. Looking up and seeing those two the other night just seemed to put things into perspective somehow. LOL I guess it doesn't change the pressures of the day here, but it will make you think!

Yeah, some big distances. The next outer planet (Saturn) is nearly twice as far from the sun as Jupiter.....and then Uranus is more than twice as far from the sun as Saturn!

[paolo59]

Yeah, some big distances. The next outer planet (Saturn) is nearly twice as far from the sun as Jupiter.....and then Uranus is more than twice as far from the sun as Saturn!

LOL Those figures/distances are just incomprehensible to me. And all inside our 'little' galaxy! Ha ha It is simply amazing.

[MontyMagpie]

I saw them all in a line at the start of the month, was jupiter, venus, crescent moon and mercury all in a line.

[GuyJin]

I saw them all in a line at the start of the month, was jupiter, venus, crescent moon and mercury all in a line.

--

Did you really see that or are you just talking out of Ur anus?

[MontyMagpie]

--

Did you really see that or are you just talking out of Ur anus?

LOL.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5FFgCLdZgU

[sfuller94]

Makes my little 12 mile drive home really seem insignificant. If you really want to know how small we are, check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pale_Blue_Dot

Pale Blue Dot....just a dot...and ALL of humanity that ever existed is on that pale blue dot.....

[MiamiSpartan]

Love astronomy, too...last time there was a visible comet, I drove to the 18 mile stretch on the way to the Keys to get away from city lights to get a better view....