Have you noticed two bright objects in the sky getting closer together with each passing night? It’s Jupiter and Saturn doing a planetary dance that will result in the Great Conjunction on Dec. 21. On that day, Jupiter and Saturn will be right next to each other in the sky – the closest they have appeared in nearly 400 years!
Skywatching Tips from NASA
Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech
For those who would like to see this phenomenon for themselves, here’s what to do:
Find a spot with an unobstructed view of the sky, such as a field or park. Jupiter and Saturn are bright, so they can be seen even from most cities.
An hour after sunset, look to the southwestern sky. Jupiter will look like a bright star and be easily visible. Saturn will be slightly fainter and will appear slightly above and to the left of Jupiter until December 21, when Jupiter will overtake it and they will reverse positions in the sky.
The planets can be seen with the unaided eye, but if you have binoculars or a small telescope, you may be able to see Jupiter’s four large moons orbiting the giant planet.
How to Photograph the Conjunction
Credits: NASA/Bill Dunford
Saturn and Jupiter are easy to see without special equipment, and can be photographed easily on DSLR cameras and many cell phone cameras. Here are a few tips and tricks:
These planets are visible in the early evening, and you’ll have about 1-2 hours from when they are visible, to when they set. A photo from the same location can look completely different just an hour later!
Using a tripod will help you hold your camera steady while taking longer exposures. If you don’t have a tripod, brace your camera against something – a tree, a fence, or a car can all serve as a tripod for a several-second exposure.
The crescent Moon will pass near Jupiter and Saturn a few days before the conjunction. Take advantage of it in your composition!
“Oh my God, it is enough honor for me to be your humble servant, and it is enough pride for me that You are my God. You are as I like so make me as You like.”
Hi! Omg, that was an accident. I just got on here after a bunch of years and removed the duplicates. LOL, anyway I hope you’re well and staying safe! <3
Anonymous asked: my friend just lost her father and her eldest brother. do you have something regarding to quran or sayings to comfort her? i want to make her feel better.
Salaam, I’m so sorry for my late reply and for your friend’s loss. Grief and death are two things that are very hard to deal with no matter who you are, and the fact that your friend has lost two people at once breaks my heart subhhanAllah. I wanted to wait until I had time to give you a reply that will really benefit you both insha’Allah.
The most common verse, is from surah Baqarah. Allah (swt) says:
“Who, when afflicted with calamity say: "Truly! To Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.”“ [2:156]
The transliteration for the verse in its entirety is allatheena itha asabat-hum museebatun qaloo inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’oun, but the bolded part is what usually is said.
Dealing with the loss of someone close to you is one of the most tragic things someone can go through, and probably one of the greatest trials from Allah (swt). He must have really loved your friend and her family to try her with two great calamities like that. May He give her patience insha’Allah.
Whenever someone close to me is dealing with loss, I always remember the greatest loss in the history of mankind- and that’s the death of the Prophet (saw). It was hard on everyone, but especially on his (saw) daughter Fatima (ra). She died shortly after his death, and she wasn’t able to smile a day after seeing her beloved father and the most honorable human to ever grace this planet give his last breath. At the time of his death:
When she was 28 years old her father died. She went through a very hard time. She entered upon the Prophet (saw) when he was really tired and ill, and so he was unable to get up and kiss her, as was his usual. So she sat to the right of the Prophet (saw) while she was crying. The Prophet (s) said “bring your ear closer to me O Fatima”, so he whispered something in her ear, so she cried.
The Prophet (s) again said “bring your ear closer to me O Fatima” and he whispered something else in her ear, and so she laughed.
Aisha (ra) later asked her after the death of the Prophet (s), please tell me what he whispered to you, she said, “firstly he said “O Fatima I am going to die tonight,” and so I cried, and when he saw me crying he said, “will you not be satisfied that you will be the first from amongst my family to follow me and that you will be sayyidat of the women of Paradise?”, and so I laughed”.
SubhanAllah, this story is extremely saddening, as I can’t imagine what it was like for Fatima (ra) or the rest of the ummah when they witnessed the death of the Prophet (saw). Bilal (ra) left Madinah and didn’t give adhan there for a while, and when he returned and gave the adhan he got to the shahadah and broke down in tears because it reminded him of the days the Prophet (saw) would pray amongst them. Umar (ra) was in so much grief that he swore he would draw his sword on anyone who claimed the Rasool (saw) was dead. SubhanAllah, so much so that Abu Bakr had to recite Allah’s words to calm him down:
"Muhammad is no more than a Messenger: many were the Messengers that passed away before him. If he died or were slain, will you then turn back on his heels?” If any did turn back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah.“ (Quran 3:144)
(Here is a heart short lecture about the Prophet’s death that really puts everything in perspective.)
However, this story not only teaches us about the grief of death, but the beauty of it as well. It teaches us that Allah (swt) is so merciful, when we die and (insha’Allah) reunite with the righteous, we will see our family members who will our ask about our relatives that are not yet there. If they are alive, they rejoice because that means there’s still a chance for them to be among them. If we answer that they died, then they cry in grief because that means that they weren’t among the righteous. SubhanAllah, may He make us and all of our loved ones amongst the ones who achieve bliss in their graves until the hereafter. Isn’t it beautiful that if we die righteous then we will reunite with the our loved ones in our graves and enjoy the fragrance of jannah with them until the hereafter?
I can’t imagine what your friend must be going through, but her and her family have been in my duas since I first read your message. May Allah forgive her dad and her brother, may He widen their graves with mercy, may He reunite them with the righteous, may He forgive their sins, may He raise your friend and her family’s ranks in the hereafter for enduring such a loss. And may He reward you for seeking to help her.
“The project, called "The Topography of Tears,” captures unique moments in human experience, but there’s also a scientific reason why every tear looks so different. There are three different types of tears: basal (lubricating), reflex (responding to stimuli) and psychic (triggered by emotion). Each type of tear contains different organic substances, and the molecular makeup depends on the causative agent. For instance, emotional tears contain the neurotransmitter leucine enkephalin, a natural painkiller that the body releases to mitigate stress.“
Become friends with people who aren’t your age. Hang out with people whose first language isn’t the same as yours. Get to know someone who doesn’t come from your social class. This is how you see the world. This is how you grow.
Today, Emma Watson graduated from one of the most prestigious Ivy League colleges, Brown University, with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature. She may be best known for her role as Hermione Granger in the movie adaptions of the Harry Potter series, but this young woman was determined to acquire an education—while simultaneously starring in 4 films (two of which were the last installments of the Harry Potter franchise). I just wanted to take a moment and praise Ms. Watson for her accomplishments. You don’t see her in the headlines for drug involvement or rehab or what have you. No. Some associations tied to her name include modeling, designing eco-friendly clothing, education, promoting positive body image, and supporting schools in Africa. To me, this is the epitome of a great role model not only for young girls but for anyone. To borrow a clichéd saying, she’s got a good head on her shoulders. Besides, English literature is pretty darn cool anyhow.
