Jupiter!
*Geeks out*
Isn't she magnificent?
I've never seen a more glorious Great Red Spot...Since Pluto got kicked out of the Solar System, Jupiter's officially my favourite planet. I like Saturn, but she's a bit too much of a conventional beauty...
Uranus is pretty, too. I like her wonkiness.
So anyway, NASA reports that Jupiter will be really close to the Earth today and tomorrow, and we'll be able to see her without any visual aids for about a month. The next time this will happen again will be in the year 2022. I've been looking outside, but so far, all I see are rainclouds and... Well, just rainclouds.
According to our ever so accurate Mingguan Malaysia newspaper, Jupiter will be 592 kilometers away from Earth.
592 kilometers. That would be like, what, two hours away by plane?
I swear man, every single time I read Utusan Malaysia or Berita Harian, I turn into a Grammar Nazi and I can't help but complain to my siblings about the horrendous amount of spelling errors there are sprinkled all over the pages. Where are the editors? I mean, they can't even get names of movies right. How many times do I have to see the name 'Harry Porter' published in a local paper before someone gets fired?
Anyway. 592km away, eh? If that were true, this is what it would look like:
Image is to scale.(Minus the little black space in between the two planets.
I have bad photoshop skills!)
Le sigh.
Oh, and NASA also says that Uranus will be making a special appearance, and Mercury will cameo, too! Triple woOts!
So I know some of you are probably thinking I'm such a nerd for being over-excited about some planets, but really, looking at planets, the night sky, the stars, the moon... Always makes me feel so tiny, so insignificant. It's just a reminder of how great and how amazing God is. A reminder of our little place in the big picture.
Lots of love,
from Me.
PS: Earlier this week I spotted this comment on youtube: "Why is Ms. Universe always from planet Earth?" Cute.
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September 24th update!
I finally got to see the planet with my own two eyes... I actually did see it on the first night, but I thought it was a regular star, so I didn't really pay attention. But after other people uploaded videos of their sightings up on youtube, I realised I was looking at the same thing.
So I went out tonight and took photos! The camera I used isn't really good at capturing objects millions of miles away, so we'll have to settle with these blurry images...
It looks like a star, except it doesn't twinkle. It's a bit bigger than usual stars. A steady dot of bright white light. Through my binoculars (because I don't have a telescope!), it looks a bit reddish.
Yeah, Jupiter's that Y-shaped thing...
I have shaky hands whenever I take photos!
The moon's not looking too bad, either!
See you again soon!
Oh, and NASA also says that Uranus will be making a special appearance, and Mercury will cameo, too! Triple woOts!
So I know some of you are probably thinking I'm such a nerd for being over-excited about some planets, but really, looking at planets, the night sky, the stars, the moon... Always makes me feel so tiny, so insignificant. It's just a reminder of how great and how amazing God is. A reminder of our little place in the big picture.
Lots of love,
from Me.
PS: Earlier this week I spotted this comment on youtube: "Why is Ms. Universe always from planet Earth?" Cute.
---
September 24th update!
I finally got to see the planet with my own two eyes... I actually did see it on the first night, but I thought it was a regular star, so I didn't really pay attention. But after other people uploaded videos of their sightings up on youtube, I realised I was looking at the same thing.
So I went out tonight and took photos! The camera I used isn't really good at capturing objects millions of miles away, so we'll have to settle with these blurry images...
It looks like a star, except it doesn't twinkle. It's a bit bigger than usual stars. A steady dot of bright white light. Through my binoculars (because I don't have a telescope!), it looks a bit reddish.
Yeah, Jupiter's that Y-shaped thing...I have shaky hands whenever I take photos!
The moon's not looking too bad, either!
Oh yeah, and happy equinox, everyone! This year's second equinox is marked by a full moon, the first time since 1991. :D
4 comments:
The space is playing pranks again. Tak nampak apa pun. -__-'
I know... Maybe cuz it was raining last night? I'll keep looking out for it though!
haha i like that youtube comment! i always thought naming the pageant Miss Universe wasn't apt at all... and quite stupid really. Miss World still makes sense, but Miss Universe? it just elicits sarcastic comments...
Rudy, we finally got to see it, weee!
Steph, now that Jupiter's only like two hours away by plane, you can migrate there, and Jupiter will finally have a chance at having their own Ms. Universe!
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