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Awake suddenly at 4.48am my first thought was THIS is the morning. I’d read that Mars would be closer than it will ever be in our lifetime on this very morning. The closest it will ever be is 60 million miles away—the farthest will be 400 million. My second thought was ‘there is no way I’ll get back to sleep, so I may as well get up and see Mars’. Not the thoughts of an intrepid astronomer.
I’d read Mars would be the brightest thing in the sky that night. I was doubtful. I was just hoping I would be able to identify it. Our skies are so clear and dark that as long as there is no cloud, things can usually be seen, but I’m no expert at identification. My feet slid along the bare, cold tiles to the western end of the house. As I opened the French door to the patio there it was, golden yellow/orange, twinkling against the navy blue sky. “I’m seeing something I will never see again. No human alive will ever see this again. Something many people on earth won’t know about, or take time to notice, or have access to see.” And I stand there in the perfect early morning air gently ruffling my nightie and I watch Mars twinkle and I think, if this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.
ardysez 
I waited up to see it at its peak last night! It was a very humble feeling thinking everything you just shared!
Although, I walked out of work the morning following the full moon to see a gorgeous moon paired with a bright and beautiful Mars beside it. THAT took my breath away!!
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Yes, we saw that full moon with Mars too and it was spectacular. I’m glad to know someone else got to see it as well. Thank you for reading and commenting.
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Ardys, with your curiosity and passion so well expressed, you easily take us to that night of discovery. Thank you! Glad that you don’t have much urban light around and that you can regularly see many stars. Take care and best to you and your family! 🙂
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Thank you Fabio. My muse was on my shoulder as I wrote that this morning, she was so keen for me to write about it! Best to you and your family too.
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You have made me smile ! You write so evocatively I could sense your bare feet sliding along the cool night floor, opening the door . . . to be all alone with Mars . . . how absolutely beautiful and what a lovely memory to have ! Just one ‘correction’ dear gal – go back to your school days: stars twinkle, planets shine with a steady light 🙂 ! But perhaps he was so glad someone remembered he twinkled just for you . . . hugs . . .
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I know normally planets don’t normally twinkle, Eha, but Mars was definitely twinkling at me! I took it personally.
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It is nice. Congratulations for remembering and being in the moment. I forgot and I wasn’t quite awake but am so happy that you had that you remembered and were part of the commemorative committee, and that the sky was clear. So many astronomical events we’ve missed due to cloud cover. I think, but I’m not an astronomer, that Mars is the orange bright spot in the sky I’ve seen on recent evenings rising and transiting not far from the moon. Ours skies have been the clearest I remember since I was a kid back on my grandparents farm. Except on the full moon when its light outshines them the stars and milky way have been as bright as I remember from then, 50 years ago.
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You can still see it, if weather permits, and it will be worth it for a couple of weeks yet, I think. We actually saw it near the moon a couple of weeks ago and that was nice too. There was no moon left when I saw Mars this morning so it was the ‘star’ (even though it is a planet) of the show!
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I’ve often awakened in the wee hours and decided to get up when sleep didn’t return at some point. It is a special time to venture outside and see what presents itself. I always take Oscar and Lollipop out first thing to do their business, and I am never sorry to stand there – whatever the weather – and take in those quiet moments. I’m happy you stepped out to observe Mars and expressed so beautifully what you experienced. Here, with woods around us to the west and north, and city lights to the east and south, we don’t often get a good view of the night sky.
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I will remember in future what you have said, when I can’t sleep, and I’ll venture outside to see what is going on. Mostly our temperatures are warm and the sky is clear…though I do have to check for kangaroos using our breezeway, or dingoes that prowl around at night. Thanks for reading Lori. xx
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