The Moon and Mars
Comments: 5
Just noticed that the moon and Mars are taking a spectacular journey together across the sky. Mars appears just to the south-west of the moon, but it’s orbiting so close to us that it’s not being obscured by the moon’s brightness. Just … transfixing. There’s no other word.
Things like this, well, it’s about as close as I come to god.
Astronomically, we’re living in pretty interesting times. In my lifetime we’ve had visits from Halley’s, Hale-Bopp, Ikeya-Zhang, various conjunctions, better-than-average Leonids, the closest Mars we’re going to see for almost 60,000 years, Sky-Lab (which rained down over my home state), the sad decommissioning of Mir and the not quite as triumphant as it should have been creation of the ISS, the launching of the miraculous Hubble, plus, of course, our share of tragedy. Oh, and some of us walked on the moon, little things like that.
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Posted to The Good • 2003.09.09 (Tue) • 22:33
Comments
Posted by Kingsley 2003.09.10, 00:17
Hey, never thought of it that way! And to think I wanted to be an astronomer when I was a kid.
Posted by James 2003.09.10, 01:51
I noticed that formation this evening as well. I am down in southern Australia (Adelaide) and Mars was slightly higher in relation to the moon, pretty much abreast. Beautiful.
I would say that astronomical events haven’t really increased in frequency in recent times; it is that we take more notice since the advent of the space age (1957 - present) and the development of modern day devices; like telescopes, CCD etc.
Posted by Fissell 2003.09.10, 08:43
As a young adult, it’s hard to remember Halley’s, but all the other’s stick out very well. Mostly, though, I attach astronomical events with some sort of tragedy. Hale-Bopp and Heaven’s Gate, any shuttle mission and the Challenger/Columbia disasters, walking on the moon with Apollo 13. Mars especially. NASA has a bad go on that one.
For the most part, however, the skies will always be filled with wonder for so many. This heavenly spectacles of now may mean very little to children, but that doesn’t mean they still don’t look up at night and smile at all those stars.
Posted by Simo 2003.09.19, 21:40
hey cool. thank for your imagination. the poor quality keeps minds alive.
Posted by Kay 2006.08.28, 16:26
I am in south australia… and actually where I was there was no moon… at all… I was sad.
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