Weather or not, the planets align

Jeremy Likness
Mar 3
4 min read

Last week, we had the rare opportunity to witness a planetary alignment that won't occur again until 2040. Just after sunset, an arc of planets could be traced from west to east, starting with Saturn, passing through the invisible new moon, and continuing with Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Uranus, and Neptune. Inspired by this event, I publicly set a goal to image all seven planets in one evening. Initially, I planned to view the spectacle from my garage roof but later decided to share the experience with others. I announced the event, packed my gear, and headed to Nye Beach, an excellent location for capturing low-horizon targets like Saturn and Mercury.

However, the low horizon had surprises of its own. It appeared as a distant patch of darkness over the ocean, gradually growing while long, dark tendrils of clouds writhed overhead. Okay, maybe it wasn't that dramatic, but it sure was pretty to watch.

For this event, I needed a big aperture and long focal length to capture the details I was aiming for. Here's a snapshot of me using an old-fashioned "iron sights" approach to center my telescope on Jupiter.

If you're curious about what I was looking at, here’s the live feed projected on my computer screen. You can clearly see Jupiter, even if it appears a little green.

(Photo credit: Guerrero Eydie)

To my surprise and delight, dozens of people joined me the night. A couple from Salem, another couple picking up a print they ordered, my close friends Shawn and Eydie, and many other people who happened to wander by, curious about what I was doing. I shared a few facts about Venus and Jupiter and showed them live views before the fog rolled in. One moment, we were searching for Mars under a clear sky, and the next, my equipment was covered in dew, the temperature dropped, and the wind was howling. Well, 2 out of 7 is better than nothing, right? Here's the images of Venus and Jupiter from that night. The fuzzy patch next to Jupiter is the moon Ganymede.

A heartfelt thanks to all who came out, and especially those of you who offered to help me pack up. I deeply appreciate it! I enjoyed our time together. A special shout out to the Archway Market, as several attendees mentioned they heard about the event there.

KYAQ and SkyWatch

Just two weeks ago, a good friend suggested I reach out to our local radio station for a short, weekly segment on astronomy. Thanks to their introductions, we met, and I'm excited to announce that the second episode is airing today! The new segment, "SkyWatch", airs after the local news at noon and 4pm on KYAQ (91.7 FM). Episode 1 aired on Tuesday last week, and starting today, it will broadcast on Mondays,

You can listen to archived episodes at https://archive.kyaq.org. Each week, my goal is to share:

Upcoming events in the night sky, such as planetary alignments and lunar eclipse
Moon phases and interesting locations to witness and/or photograph moonrise and moonset
Viewing tips for locating, observing, and photographing the night sky
Explanations of astronomy terms
Fun scientific facts
Reflections on historical astronomical events happening during the week

Enjoy the show, and let me know if there are special topics or events you'd like me to cover!

Upcoming Exhibitions

I'm participating in several upcoming shows.

OCCA's 3rd Annual Member Show

"Featuring the diverse work of OCCA’s member artists in a fresh, eclectic mix of materials and styles. This year's suggested theme is Birds and/or Spring Colors."

Venue:	Visual Arts Center (VAC) in Newport
Reception:	Friday, March 7th, 2025 5pm - 7pm
Exhibition dates;	March 7th, 2025 - April 27th, 2025
Piece(s) on display (tap or click on image for details):	"Bright Perspective"

Impressions of the Oregon Coast

"This show highlights the beautiful shorelines, sunsets, night skies, wildlife, and icons of the central Oregon coast. Viewers will experience the region through the collective lens of Yaquina Art Association Photographers. Each participating member has selected images that are meaningful to them, creating a stunning visual story of the coast and the life that animates it."

Venue:	Pacific Maritime Heritage Center in Newport
Reception:	Thursday, March 13th, 2025 4pm - 6pm
Exhibition dates;	March 13th, 2025 - September 2nd, 2025
Piece(s) on display (tap or click on image for details):	"Moon and Milk" "The Devil's Den"

The Newport Chamber of Commerce is also displaying this piece in their office:

I am working on a free presentation about astrophotography to deliver along with a paid workshop focused on Milky Way photography that will be offered in time for the summer. Stay tuned!

What's next? I encourage you to...