This morning, I awoke, as my custom, at the predawn hours. It was approximately 4:30 A.M.. As my bed faces south east, my attention was drawn immediately to a brilliant light in the starlit sky. It was the brightest star, by far, that I had ever seen in my lifetime. Low on the horizon, it pulsed so brightly, I wasn't even certain if it was natural. UFO's, space stations, and other images crossed my mind before I set about solving the mystery. Referring to a daily subscription I receive in my email, I checked the earthsky.org website which keeps me informed on sky activity. Sure enough, the bright light was a celestial phenomena. It was a conjunction of Jupiter and Venus. Their timely angles to one another and the elongation of Venus's position to the sun, made the two planets appear as one, in conjunction. As Jupiter and Venus are the two brightest points in our sky next to the moon and sun, together the light they projected was stunning, otherworldly. While watching the event take place in the dark moonlit sky (a super blood wolf full lunar eclipse moon only hours before), to watching the planets sparkle through the blue of dawn above the orange glow of the skyline, I was mystified.
Certainly, I had to wake Tim up for the interstellar show. We admired the planets' conjunction through his binoculars and saw it as doubly awesome. This degree of brilliance from Jupiter and Venus joining will not occur again until January 29, 2043. By then we will both most certainly be dead, so I felt a need to share the experience with him. I even group texted my family, waking them all up with text alerts at 5 A.M.! Lori responded immediately with a "Wow!" Rachel responded later with a picture of the planet conjunction taken from her kitchen window.
What a true blessing this early morning sight was to witness. Dear, Father in Heaven, thank you for the opportunity to see such a marvelous celestial event. Thank you for prompting me to share it with those I love, as next time we see the planets join to produce such a brilliant light, many of us will be sharing the radiant view with you in Your most Holy Kingdom.
"A Blessing of Two Planets"
When Jupiter and Venus shine
Together like a diamond mine
And if as one these planets view
May fortune's flame alight on you.
by Tammy C. Smith
Copyright: 22 January 2019
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