Mars & Jupiter Sitting In A Tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!

If you wake up this week step outside and look up to the east, you will see the pairing of two wonderful planets as they snuggle up to each other in the morning sky.

Jupiter and Mars are as close as they ever have been or ever will be again in many years. Even though they are still almost 350 million miles apart from each other, we, the humans of Earth, get to observe with a unique perspective unlike anything else from our vantage point.

I love to see matchups like this in the sky. It reminds me of friends, old and new, and how exciting it can be to meet someone for the first time, or see them again after much time has passed. The bonding and chemistry that come alive for these interactions and it is beautiful.

That is how I see it when I see two planets come together as one.

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I could capture images of plants and deep space. Falling into the abyss of night sky photography was an accident. I was a pretty accomplished photographer up to this point, but unexpected life changes stepped in and I had to give it all up, or so I thought.

There are parts of the sky that I love to take images of more than others. I am amazed at how much is unseen with the naked eye, but every night there can be something new to explore.

The images below are two I took with my telescope from my backyard of planets. The amazing thing about this is that even with my modest equipment, I can see the polar icecaps on Mars, and the lines on Jupiter, even its moons circling its orbit. My mind melts, and my heart beats faster every time.

An event like this is called a conjunction. The two objects will appear to be incredibly close to each other. This event won't happen again for several years. As the days come and go, the two planets will slowly move apart again. I like to call this their celestial dance. Our solar system is full of little dances like this. They all happen at different times of the year and can sometimes be years apart before they happen again.

On August 27th, the two planets will join the crescent moon, and having all three together is a beautiful sight. Below is a picture I took when Venus was bright in the sky next to the crescent moon. My awe and wonder is filled when I see this in real life.

Many of our planets have incredible features that are easy to see through a telescope. Saturn would be my favorite, and I will write about that another time. The main attraction of this event will be Jupiter and Mars. Jupiter will be the brightest, and Mars will have a nice red glow to it.

I hope you do take the time to venture out, it is important to always look up, you never know what you may see. If you do happen to make it out after reading this, let me know in the comments. Try to get up just before sunrise when it's darkest; I promise you it will be worth it!

Authors Note: Thanks for reading, commenting, and sharing. My writing is a part of my healing process. It is an honor and a pleasure to share my work with the world. That is why I share my vulnerable heart openly. Thank you for your support. -nagoh