Celestial event #1:
Friday, 4.25.25. Alarm set for 4:45am. When I leave early, it's only a 2 hour drive out to the desert. If not, it will be 2.5 hours (or more). On this particular morning, I woke up around 2:45am. I lay in bed for 15 minutes, but finally gave up on sleep. I ended up leaving the house around 3:30AM. Ya, I know... crazy way to start the day.
In less than two hours, I'm heading west on Highway 62 in the high desert in the darkness while admiring the beautiful crescent moon. There was also a planet above and to the right of the moon. That's when I had the aha moment: I had read somewhere recently there would be a "smiley face" in the sky, with Venus and Saturn making up the eyes, and the crescent moon the mouth. I wonder if today is the day? Well, I just had to pull off the road and take a couple photos.
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| A beautiful tilted smiley face!! |
Here's what it looks like if I orient the smiley face so it's not tilted:
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| Beautiful! |
4.11.25. It was just dumb luck. Mitch and I were finishing up a hike (not yet posted), nearly back to the car, and we noticed this big, beautiful full moon rising on the horizon. Later, I learned it is called the Pink Moon. It doesn't actually look pink. It's named after the pink wildflowers that bloom this time of year. We happened to be in something of a Joshua tree forest, so I tried to find creative ways to capture the moon and Joshua trees together.
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| It looks like someone running to me! |
Thanks for dropping by, and I hope you've been able to enjoy some pretty skies in your neck of the woods!
Linking with Skywatch Friday.
Loved your celestial events, a smiley face and a full moon. I like the various positions of the moon with the trees. Don't you ever sleep?
ReplyDeleteAwesome photos. I did read about the smiley face moon but when I looked out it was cloudy so I never saw it. The sunrise moon and pink ones are stunning
ReplyDeleteYou got a very beautiful day
ReplyDeleteI also woke up early today 04.00 I was awake
and went away at 05.30 for photo
Beautiful pictures all around... as usual!
ReplyDeleteThose are great. Thanks for the "smiley face". I had heard about it, but I wasn't getting up at 2 AM to try to see it.
ReplyDelete...your night skies are fabulous! Thanks for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteI like the venus, saturn crescent moon smiley! It's great. So are those pink moon Joshua tree shots!
ReplyDeleteThanks, and yes, the moon photos all included spiky Joshua tree branches.
DeleteRemember, luck comes to those prepared to work for it, and you do! The Joshua Tree/moon pictures reminded me of pictures of concerts where people bat around beach balls. Can you imagine trees playing beach ball with the moon? That's what you photographed! As for the smiley face, I'm glad I didn't stay up trying to see it.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful, serendipitous moments—your early start truly paid off with rare celestial sights and a magical desert moonrise.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteLove the smiley face photo ~ Wow! ~ You certainly have unique and beautiful experiences in that desert and awesome photos too ~ thanks, ~ hugs,
ReplyDeleteWishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores ~ clm
aka (A Creative Harbor)
The running tree... towards the moon makes me think of a Native American Dance...that's what it looks like. Amazing shot and very well composed. I didn't get to see the 'smiley' face in person but I did see it the night before. Very cool work. I'm hoping for clear skies soon so I can go out and enjoy the Milky Way!
ReplyDeleteIncredible shots, as always.
ReplyDeleteWorth a Thousand Words
Great photos. Love the moon shots.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Both those celestial events are incredible, and your photos are lovely.
ReplyDeleteThe moon with the Joshua trees made my evening!!
ReplyDeleteTo me the challenge of lunar photography is to put it into context of surrounding elements. You have done that perfectly in both cases.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing. Spectacular photos as always. You make me want to spend time in an isolated area enjoying the night sky. A summer plan…
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. I really love the little smiley :-D
ReplyDeleteVerdronken Land van Saeftinghe
ReplyDeleteAmazing photography, Loved it.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots.
ReplyDeleteThose moonshots with the running tree are remarkable. Your usual beautiful offering. Thanks so much for sharing with us. Aloha!
ReplyDeleteYou are quite the trooper to get up so early and drive great distances! But the payoff was well worth it! Now I see how the smiley face was to be seen. You are so right about the media's hype. Excellent series of photos. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteAwesome photos, so beautiful to see. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLove all your moon photos!
ReplyDeleteI love your smiley face. I had never heard of that before. The moon photos are great. I enjoy photographing the moon like that.
ReplyDeleteLove this! The smiley face in the sky is such a fun catch.
ReplyDeleteAnd that moon with the Joshua trees is magical!
Thanks for sharing these awesome sky moments!
Again beautiful photos but just seeing them already gives me a dry throat. That's how well the desert feeling is conveyed.
ReplyDeleteSuch an intrepid explorer heading out at 3:30 AM in search of photos and adventure. I love your smiley face. I also love the moon and Joshua trees.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite image is the Joshua tree with the moon captured in-between if super fantastic!
ReplyDeleteMe ha encantado tu reportaje y las fotografías que más me ha gustado ha sido la de las fotos nocturna.
ReplyDeleteQue tengas una buena semana.
Thank you for stopping and capturing the 'smiley' face. The media had also made a thing of it here. I had planned to head to the coast for an Anzac Day dawn service and prior viewing of, but a 4 inch deluge put paid to that on both accounts.
ReplyDeleteNice captures.. the smiley face is cool even if a little exaggerated.
ReplyDeleteWell, I sure hope you've caught up on your sleep by now. :-)
ReplyDelete🤣 Thanks, yes I have!
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