Five Planets
Gary Warner
Birminghap, Alabama, US
In late April and early May of 2002, the visible planets are in a close
configuration that will not be repeated during our lifetimes. As twilight
settles in, first one heavenly body and then another come into view. Mercury was
already beneath the hills.
twilight silhouette
Venus fades into view
through the pine boughs
I set up my telescope right in the
middle of the cul-de-sac, and just for fun, my wife calls all the
neighbors. At quarter after eight, the last dim glow of daylight is just
visible in the west, and the other planets are beginning to appear. I'm still a
novice with my telescope, and it takes me a moment to find Jupiter. Little John
Carey, who is four, encourages me in my efforts, pointing and saying "Its
right over there!" At last I bring it into focus, and we take turns
holding up the children so they too can look through the telescope. Each person
who looks declares that they see FIVE moons to Jupiter. Four in a line, and then
one out to the side. Ganymede, Io, Callypso, and Europa are each
identified and I try to explain that all the moons are on the same
elliptical. It doesn't matter. Each person says they saw five. One
declares that Jupiter has seventeen moons. Another says its twenty-two.
the cul-de-sac full
of armchair astronomers
Jupiters' moon
Venus was a great disappointment to most in
attendance. They wanted excitement -- romance -- adventure! They got a very
bright dot. Saturn was a bit better because they could see the rings, and even
Mars was exciting, because they were surprised to find that it was not
"full".
great horned owl calling
the bottom right edge of Mars
gone missing
Mothers took children to their
beds. The men stayed out and talked hardware and prices. Everyone wants a
telescope, they just hadn't realized it until tonight. No one knew the new
neighbors phone number. Eventually the husband came out to take out his trash,
and was surprised to see a crowd at the end of his driveway. His new bride
joined us thirty minutes later, looking for her husband.
taking out the trash
new neighbors shake hands
in the moonlight
The previous owners had been happy
to turn off their lights when they got a "telescope call". During the
vacant period between owners, I unscrewed all their lightbulbs. I apologized to
the new owners and offered the loan of my ladder.
the morning after
trying to recall the face
from the darkness
_-_
gar
April 24, 2002
Next
Read "The Rivers of Mars " by Michael McClintock
