Star Light, Star Bright

I don't know how long this will last, but the planet Venus is so bright and beautiful in the southwestern sky right now, you have to take a look! It is hovering near the moon.

Last night was clear and icy cold and the sky was absolutley filled with stars - the little dipper and the big dipper, too. But Venus and our moon were really putting on a show. A little sliver of a moon but bright as could be. Tonight I went out for another look not expecting much since it was cloudy but the clouds were moving quickly and Venus and the moon kept coming in and out of sight. It was so pretty and it was very moving.

Maybe because I just finished reading The Elegant Universe by Greene I was especially interested. In my neighborhood, if you walk down by the water on a clear winter night, you can always see a shooting star or two. I know they are always around but in some places it is just too bright to see them. Every once in a while, when the moon is full, it rises over the horizon in the east (right over Jamestown) and appears gigantic. I know it is an optical illusion but what a sight to see. There is a bench on the hill over the water and you can sit there and take photos or just watch the moon rise higher and higher until it makes a reflected path on the bay.


Venus is the second planet from the sun, so is our neighbor, but has no moon of her own. I recently learned that a day on Venus is equal to 243 of our earth days. Talk about a long week at the office. A very slow rotation compared to us and it is very hot there - I think about 900 degrees F. Yikes.

But viewed from my back yard she looks quite beautiful. Please take a look before this phenomonon makes a hasty exit.