Cresent Moon and the Evening Star

Our family has always been facinated with the night sky. Mom has good memories of many nights spent outside looking at the sky through a telescope while her dad sat next to her teaching and guiding her through the constellations and planets. etc. Mom has passed that interest onto Rachel and I and we too have memories of when we were still very young, walking out in the garden with her while she pointed out the more easily recognizable heavenly bodies. The very first planet we learnt to recognize was Venus - "the Evening and Morning Star". The first constellations were Orion and of course, our favourite one of all, "The Southern Cross". There is so much beauty in the night sky and one marvels at God's incredible creation!

We'd been away from home most of last Sunday and were returning just after sunset. The sky was perfectly clear and calm and we had a wonderful view of the young cresent moon and Venus close together in the western sky. Mom tried to take a photo but it didn't come out very well but I'm posting it anyway just to give a little idea of how brilliant the two looked.

Up coming sky events: This weekend, if you're up just before sunrise, you'll be able to see the International Space Station passing close by the bright planets Jupiter and Mercury. The ISS is very bright and easy to see, as is Jupiter. Enjoy the viewing! :)

"I cannot conceive how a man could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.”

- Abraham Lincoln