Believe it or not! This is the photo of the sky over Mumbai tonight. And, apparently, over most of India.My brother, who lives halfway across the country, excitedly called me up to take a look at the moon tonight. I dejectedly cursed the polluted Mumbai skies and glanced outside and ...! There's a smilie over Mumbai tonight!
Ravaged, weary, dejected, embattled Mumbai has won a natural smilie.
Isn't that the most fantastic phenomenon?! A crescent moon and two stars (or are they planets?) have created this especially for us.
There's a healing moon smiling over us, Mumbai!
Incidentally, these are not manipulated photographs. I wish I had a better camera and better photographic skills to take a more convincing photo though.
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I came out too late to see this configuration in Dallas, Texas when it happened last night, but I hope to capture it myself tonight. Thank you very much for these photos.
ReplyDeleteAwesome I can't wait to see this tonite. I hope it clears by then. Your right Sunita. It is two planets Venus and Jupiter. Here's an article on the event. http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/spectacularskyscenemondayevening;_ylt=AjstzvHKXbuPPPUxy4AlcE3Zn414
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your pics!!!!
A well deserved and much needed healing moon... That's neat Sunita. Sometimes it's hard to accurately capture the sky/moon...but in this case, I can see the "eyes" twinkling Continued prayers to your country.
ReplyDeleteA smile indeed)
ReplyDeleteHello Sunita,
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I stopped by and saw your wonderful photos! We looked, but could only see the moon, about to set. We were a little late apparently, and will look again tomorrow night.
Yes, they're planets...Venus and Jupiter. Your brother did a good deed calling to tell you about it. I'm so glad you got to see it. Mumbai certainly needs a smile right now :)
Kylee over at "Our Little Acre", in Ohio, posted about this yesterday. Here's her blog link
http://ourlittleacre.blogspot.com/
And here's another link that will tell you about the event:
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=7691
Thanks so much for sharing the happy event and the great pics :)
Hi Sunita! Kerri (from Colors From the Garden) said you had some wonderful photos of the planetary alignment with the moon and that I should come check them out. They ARE wonderful and just what those of us here where it's been cloudy wanted to see, but couldn't. I had done a blog post yesterday about this event and asked for anyone who could get pictures of it to let me know. I hope you don't mind that I link to your blog post so that my readers can see your wonderful photos!
ReplyDeleteYes, you certainly can use the smile. My sympathies to your country and those families that have been affected by the terrorist tragedy there. I sure hope it's over and I pray for healing for all of you.
This is fantastic! Especially in light of the past week. Here's to peace: for you, India, and the world.
ReplyDeletePaul, that's real bad luck. But, I'm sure you'll get to see it tonight, hmm? Get outdoors real early and get the best seats for this heavenly show. Believe me, it's worth it!
ReplyDeleteAnd how arrogant of me to assume that only Mumbai and India was getting to see it :D
Hey, Eric, thanks for the link! So that was Jupiter and Venus up there, dancing to the light of the moon. Hmmm... I wonder where Mars had gone off to ; )
ReplyDeleteThank you , Sunita. Heals the wounded heart no end.
ReplyDeleteKim, your photos of the night-sky are always gorgeous. I think I should take lessons from you. In fact it was your post'Magic To?' which sparked everyone's interest in how the moon was beginning to look these days.
ReplyDeleteTake a look, all of you, at Kim's gorgeous photos at http://spookydragonfly.blogspot.com/2008/11/magic-to.html
Thanks, Tina. It really makes me feel like smiling too.
ReplyDeleteKerri, thanks for telling me about Kylee's post. I loved taking a look at how 'my' moon looked in another part of the world.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Astronomy link too. I must show it to my kids. They were with me up on the terrace of our apartment buiding and wondering at this novel smiling moon.
Kylee, you're welcome to link to my post. Of course, as soon as I read that you had seen this phenomenon too, I raced over to your blog to check it out. Great photo, Kylee. And you were definitely better informed about this event than me :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your prayers. Mumbai can definitely use them now.
Thanks for 2Day (what a neat blog name!) , your prayers for peace in India and all over the world are really needed now.
ReplyDeleteRaji, did you get to see it in Chennai too? Look out for it, I read that its going to be visible for a few days.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for the Restore India link.
Oops! That should read 'The Rebuild India Mission'.
ReplyDeleteHere's a link for anyone who'd like to take a look :
http://www.intheorbit.com/2008/11/rebuild-india-mission.html
Sunita, Came over to see how things were going for you... the smile is a needed symbol tonight! I just saw these posted on a Jerusalem blog too.
ReplyDeleteI am praying for all the mourning and grieving people in your country. What a nightmare of senseless killings.
I'm glad to know you are okay.
meems
Meems, thanks for checking up on me. I love the blogging world... there's been so much of concern and affection from people across the globe whom I'll likely never to meet but who have become my friends in every other way. Thank you! And thank you for all your prayers too.
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful that they're seeing this heavenly show in Jerusalem too. I hope it shares some of its healing touch among the grieving families there too.
these are brilliant captures!
ReplyDeletethank you for your kind words on my blog.
It is a lovely picture and I am glad a healing moon is shining on Mumbai.
ReplyDeleteK
Magiceye, thanks and you're welcome.
ReplyDeleteKaren, it's good to see your comment finally got through. I did wonder what happened to it when I saw your message.
ReplyDeleteAre you seeing this happy moon too?
Hi Sunita!
ReplyDeleteYea, I saw the exact same scene yesterday night too and was amazed. I should go out and see if I can get a shot of it too.
Lovely Sunita! We are relieved to see a smile over Mumbai as well...((((hugs)))) from Indiana :).
ReplyDeleteHeartening smile! That's what
ReplyDeleteMumbai is all about. A city which despite all the hardships, all the heartbreaks, all the pains... manages a gorgeous smile. Three cheers for the mumbaiya spirit, one which will never be subordinated to anything ever.
Oh I love this photo. I wish I knew about it. Would be really cool to take some snaps myself!
ReplyDeleteAmazing!
ReplyDeleteChandramouli, did you get a photo for yourself? I looked again yesterday but the smile had changed into an upside down one. Maybe it's headed for Australia now.
ReplyDeleteHey! hi Tracy! Good to see you over here. You wont believe how much the concern of our friends around the world has touched us in these troubled times. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreen thumb, Mumbai is one of the most amazing cities ever. Have you read 'Maximum City' ? It's an ode to Mumbai... accepting the grime and glorying in all the positives.
ReplyDeleteI'm a transplant to Mumbai myself but you know what? I love this place. Its sheer pace & energy can overwhelm but its warmth will also envelop you.
Yes, tragic floods take place here but you'll also find people waiting outside their homes in the pouring rain, offering water and food to the stranded commuters trudging back home.
It's a city where anything is possible.
Shaheen, take a look after sunset. If you're lucky you may still get a great photo. I read somewhere that this is going to be visible for a few days.
ReplyDeleteConscious Gardening, I'll accept thanks on behalf of Venus, Moon and Jupiter :)
ReplyDeleteIt was a heart-stopping show!
Beautiful photo, Sunita. We've been gazing at Venus and Jupiter too. I took some pics but my camera...! Must be the worst for a long-distance shot!
ReplyDeletePost them anyway, Kanak. In any case we can't hope to do justice to this amazing show even if we used the best camera ever :D
ReplyDeleteWhat a good sign! It is hard to get good pics of the sky at night.
ReplyDeleteYes, isn't it , Racquel? It's so amazing that this happened within a couple of days after Mumbai's horrendous terror attacks.
ReplyDeleteShalom Sunita! I'm glad the stars have led you and me to each other's blog. Yes, you are right. All countries that have been (or God forbid, will be) hit by terrorism need to see a face smiling from heaven from time to time.
ReplyDeleteYou captured even Jupiter so well! I had trouble getting that third planet with my point-and-shoot Canon and no tripod. But it was fun standing alone in the woods, watching the show in the sky. The jackals were howling around me.
Wishing your city a good recovery and blessings.
Well I can see that this is going to be one blogging friendship that is literally written in the stars! :D
ReplyDeleteWe seem to have more in common ... I use a point-and-shoot Canon too. A Canon IXUS 950 IS. Tripod? What's that? ;)
I'm glad I didnt have to deal with jackals though!
I saw this the next evening from my car, except the moon was looking like a sad face! Then, on the news, they called it something, with the two planets and the moon, and said it wouldn't happen again for a long time, I think maybe in 2012.
ReplyDelete(I just went back and read all the comments. I'll have to go check on the other blogs.)
Hey, we just ordered a Canon camera for me, one that has a further range than the one I have now, and hopefully takes pictures of what I'm seeing when I push the button.
Sue
that was really fantastic - i have been cribbing about my wasted ( you can hardly see anything other than the moon & some nearby planets) telescope here and you come up with this great snap..
ReplyDeleteI personally dont think it was a sad face, Sue. Maybe it was a smile for the southern hemisphere?
ReplyDeleteWonderful! Which camera did you order? You're really on a roll, arent you? First a laptop and now a camera... way to go!
A telescope! But of course... that's what I need! Thanks, Maddy. I think this calls for a trip to the Nehru Planetarium. I know they sell telescopes there. Getting to see at least a few of the planets is good enough for me.
ReplyDeleteI just hope my neighbours dont complain that there's a Peeping Tanya around.
Hello Sunita !
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for stopping by my blog and such kind comments on my squiggles in the sky : )
This is a wonderfull smiley in your sky .. and it must be a relief to focus on something so amazing after all that has gone on.
I appreciate being safely tucked away in Canada but my heart goes out to all of the people in such turmoil and sad times.
I'm glad you are safe, and blogging to let us see such beautiful pictures : )
Joy
Oh Sunita, I'd forgotten you lived in Mumbai! Very, very glad your city is going to be okay and saddened at the terrible loss of life.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you found my blog and that you have one to share as well.
You will probably see comments all over from me as I browse though you site.
Carla
Joy, wasn't it amazing just looking at it?! I went around with a big, big smile after that. Yes, Mumbai really did need that heavenly smile. The timing was so incredible.
ReplyDeleteHi Carla! Yes, the city is slowly limping back to a sort of normalcy. Schools have opened again, office-goers are using the public transport systems again, television channels have started covering other news again... but fear and anger still lingers.
ReplyDeleteHey, I look forward to seeing your comments here.
Sometimes when I see from the Feedjit widget that people from such interesting places have been visiting my blog, I feel like calling out "hey, talk to me! Dont go away without letting me know you". So, please, please make sure you post often, okay? :)
How wonderful! I've been thinking of you over this last week, and am glad to see you are ok.
ReplyDeleteHi Anne! Yes, My family and I are okay. Thanks for thinking of me :)
ReplyDeleteI took a picture that night too! I just got to uploading it. It looks totally different from South Florida!
ReplyDeleteTake a look if you get a chance http://www.flickr.com/photos/i_like_plants/3097606579/
Hope things are growing well!!!
=)
Great photo, Eric! Strangely that is exactly how it looked when I saw the sky the next night (Dec. 2nd). I wonder what happened in between. I'm so used to looking down at plants that I dont know much about what is happening up in the skies.
ReplyDelete