Something is smiling on us!

Post by **buksida** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 6:52 pm

Have a look up at the sky, took this about ten minutes ago ...

Venus, Jupiter and the Moon!

Post by **Vital Spark** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:17 pm

It's truly lovely!

Grandma (aka landlady) told me that this happens every four years. The right one - as in the left eye on the face - appears to be slightly weaker and more winky than the other one (Jupiter?).

Well worth a look - just wander out into the garden and smile back...

VS

Post by **lomuamart** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:33 pm

The missus called me out to take a look at it a short while ago. Quite a sight.
Interesting that it happens every 4 or so years.

Post by **buksida** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:59 pm

They're already saying it is a good omen for Thailand - can't see any yellow or red in there ... if anything it has an orange tinge!

Post by **JimmyGreaves** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 8:47 pm

Gone!

Will it be looking down on us tomorrow?

Post by **hhfarang** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:13 pm

This is amazing. My wife got several calls from friends pointing this phenomena out. I know Thais are superstitious but I'm amazed that three celestial bodies lined up like this would cause such a stir.

I can only say that I hope they're right and there will be peace in the world tomorrow because of the smiling face in the sky tonight. I have to admit I took some photos too!

Post by **sandman67** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 3:07 am

i was eating down on the pier and can confirm this is a massive thing for the Thai locals...they were all pointing it out and taking photos on the mobiles....

man its a pretty sight tho......

i just thought it looked way cool

good photos by the way,,,,,

Post by **PeteC** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:47 am

My 3 year old really enjoyed that last night. She said it looked like a crocodile with the moon being his nose....ready to eat us. Perhaps a PAD/PPP omen?

Pete

Post by **hhfarang** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:23 am

Norseman said (on the other locked thread):

That is not stars DM.
It's Jupiter and Venus and they are planets.
Jupiter is the biggest planet in our solar system while Venus is the brightest object next to our sun and the moon.

Norseman, are you an astronomer? I have been interested in the night sky ever since I moved here (away from the big city lights) and I would love to know more about what I'm looking at.

Can you recommend any local books or web sites that will help us identify the heavenly bodies? I can usually find the constellation Orion and the Big Dipper when it is visible but that's about the extent of my knowledge on the subject and I would really like to learn more.

Post by **migrant** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:24 am

I'm not good with the digital, and the upload, but here in Southern California as I arrived back from work, we had the same set up, only it was a frown, not a smile. Guess that's correct though, I smile in Thailand, and frown here!

Will try to get it posted.

Post by **ADW** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:21 am

THanks to you guys posting pictures - I tried to take one last night, but my camera is not of good enough quality (to put it politely!)

It was an amazing sight!

Post by **Nereus** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:39 am

There is a good photo and brief comment here:

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx? ... tID=111083

Post by **IHF** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:41 am

it happens approx every 2 to 3 years and it also marks the beginning of the muslim new year.

VincentD · Post by **VincentD** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:44 am

hhfarang wrote: Can you recommend any local books or web sites that will help us identify the heavenly bodies? I can usually find the constellation Orion and the Big Dipper when it is visible but that's about the extent of my knowledge on the subject and I would really like to learn more.

You might want to use the 'astrolabium screensaver'. You enter your latitude and longitude and the screensaver gives you a picture of the sky in real time with all the constellations in sight...

http://digilander.libero.it/sundials/uk_home.html

and download the screensaver (the one that assumes you do not have vb)

Post by **buksida** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 12:35 pm

Yep, Norseman is our resident astronomer. Here is a dandy little program he recommended for me as I too am curious about these things:

http://stellarium.org/

Just plug in your GPS coords and what you see is what you get!