The Trio

Gallery: LandscapePosted September 11, 20131,002 views9 comments

This is another photo I made on Saturday of the new crescent moon. This time I included both the Moon and Venus. Then as I was processing it, I noticed a small white dot just below Venus and to the right (See the Larger Version). I zoomed in and then checked a star ephemeris application I have and realized that it was the star known as Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo. What amazed me even more is that star is 264 Light years away, in other words 1,548,543,744,000,000 miles away (One Qaudrillion Five Hundred Forty Eight Trillion Five Hundred Forty Three Billion Seven Hundred Forty Four Million miles away!) and its light still reaches Earth. Its light is ancient! One little star in an ocean of other stars bright enough to shine through at that moment ahead of all the others. Very humbling.

Enjoy.

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on September 11, 2013 at 12:22 AM

The photo is cool.The story is even cooler. Very cool combo.

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on September 11, 2013 at 12:45 AM

Your moon shots amaze me and inspire me Youssef. Last night I was out shooting the sunset on Cape Cod when a short time later I saw the crescent moon emerge and immediately thought of you and wondered to myself if you caught it. Thanks.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on September 11, 2013 at 2:03 AM

LOVE this

Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on September 11, 2013 at 6:38 AM

Simple and soothing - pretty amazing the brightness and distance. I wish I had your math skills

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Strong on September 11, 2013 at 11:00 AM

I like the warm/cool contrast and color fade. The moon and Venus add just enough other interest for it not to be completely abstract.

Registered on October 1, 2012, 43 Posts, 302 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on September 11, 2013 at 10:39 PM

Always enjoy and look forward to these Youssef. Great catch with Venus and the "star." Love the color gradation too.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on September 12, 2013 at 4:11 PM

The color transition is really nice, I like the story behind it too!

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on September 12, 2013 at 9:29 PM

You always do these so well, and this one is very nice! Like the story too.

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on September 12, 2013 at 10:44 PM

You have such an incredible vision when capturing the nuances of these new crescent moons, Youssef. Love the narrative as well. Very humbling indeed.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments