Staring Into Space

The Western evening sky was a sensation in recent wind-cleared days, with the young moon setting through the spectacular glitter of Venus and Jupiter as the two planets get ever closer in anticipation of their conjunction on March 6.

This really is a season of conjunctions, we learned in talking with John Mosley, program supervisor at the Griffith Observatory. Mars and Uranus have recently been in conjunction, and also Mars and Saturn. But for us the most extraordinary sight was the recent advent of the crescent moon, delicately lined up with Venus and Jupiter like rare jewels.

Conjunction means that the planets are in the same celestial longitude, Mosley explained to us.Venus is now in apparent pursuit of Jupiter, and on March 6 will overtake Jupiter, lying 2 degrees to the north that day. Another interesting planetary event will come in September, but it will be less spectacular: Mars will move into its closest position to Earth, an event that recurs every 17 years.

This drama of our finite solar system was the more fascinating of recent nights because it played out against a backdrop of stars in the infinity ofthe cosmos--stars not always visible throughour polluted atmosphere. We felt kindlier toward the wind and the damage that it had done as it cleared the veil of pollution--for the moment, at least--and extended our vision into the depths of the space that we inhabit.