In astronomy-speak, it is called a planetary conjunction — when the planets seem closest to each other. The National Geographic News article ” Planets, Crescent Moon to “Frown” on Skywatchers Dec. 1″ said what we would see is a frown but lucky, lucky us here in Metro Manila tonight because what we saw in the skies was this (I only had a digicam so I leaned on a window ledge to steady my hands while taking these using the slowest exposure my cam had):
Tonight we saw the 3 brightest celestial bodies — Jupiter being the largest planet, Venus being the closest planet to Earth and our own moon! Some historians even think that a similar conjunction could have been the “Star of Bethlehem” source.
Whatever it was, so many bloggers took pictures tonight, blogged or Plurked about it and shared a special moment together. What an amazing happy night tonight was!
Special thanks to a special friend who gave me a heads up to look up into the sky.
Here's to Life! 
Dec 01, 2008 @ 23:16:24
incredible photos. i wasn’t able to take pics of this “smiley” because i was in a moving vehicle. may i copy these pics? thanks!
Jane: Sure, but would appreciate appropriate credits though if you post them online. Thanks!
Dec 01, 2008 @ 23:45:06
I took photos too. I loved that I shared the night with hubby.
Jane: I cherished the thought that good friends were looking up at the same sky as I was and sharing a special moment.
Dec 02, 2008 @ 00:57:27
yeah saw this..yes smile na lang…and carry on!
Dec 02, 2008 @ 03:07:57
I choose to believe it’s a good omen:-)
Jane: It is!
Dec 02, 2008 @ 04:15:25
My siblings saw it too and asked me to take pictures of it very similar to the ones you took. I haven’t uploaded them yet. 😀
Jane: Those pics are worth uploading and blogging about 🙂
Dec 02, 2008 @ 07:05:42
hi jane. nice shots. can i borrow one and post it on my blog? 🙂 my cam-phone didn’t catch a very good shot at it last night.
Jane: Hi Jon. Sure you can borrow a photo. Would appreciate photo credit though when you post online. Thanks much for dropping by. We all shared a wonderful sight last night.
Dec 02, 2008 @ 08:23:50
posted it here, jane. thanks for sharing the pictures!
Jane: Thanks, Hazel!
Dec 02, 2008 @ 10:26:19
of course. thank you! 🙂 my blog post published here: http://jonmagat.blogspot.com/2008/12/happy-sky.html
yay! 🙂
Dec 02, 2008 @ 11:15:52
Hi, i also watch it from my place Kuala Lumpur. but didn’t manage to take a picture since i’m just using a normal digital camera. Can i copy it and i will put the credits to you. Thanks.
Dec 02, 2008 @ 11:21:38
i wanted to take photos too, but my camera phone can’t capture anything that’s beyond 50 feet (i think). i just thought to myself that my fellow bloggers would take photos and i can just take a peek… and how true! thanks for taking the photos and sharing them!
mama, lex and i were walking last night when we stopped on our tracks to stare at the sky, and the man walking towards us got curious, and stopped and stared too! hahaha.
smiley face. it’s like getting a glimpse of God’s smile. 🙂 in time for the Christmas season!
Dec 02, 2008 @ 11:27:09
Will you post the frowny pic from tonight’s sky soon? It’s too cloudy here.
Dec 02, 2008 @ 11:46:25
Great… here in Brazil it’s up side down… really nice too
Dec 02, 2008 @ 12:18:21
Hi Jane,
i using your picture to my blog. Hope you don’t mind and i have put a credit to you 🙂
it’s a wonderful moment!
Dec 02, 2008 @ 12:33:36
It’s neat that people all over the world looked for this (and saw it). 🙂
Dec 02, 2008 @ 12:59:33
Nice! I was trying to take a photo but my camera phone can’t handle it. When I saw it I was like … COOL … then text messages started pouring in… hahaha!
Dec 02, 2008 @ 14:21:24
thanks for sharing this sky smile!
i posted about it last week and have been trying to get the word out–lots of hits!
we walked down to the pacific ocean and out onto a pier to see it without glare–no smile but so wonderful!
i’d like to post your picture and promise to link back to you!
Dec 02, 2008 @ 14:22:07
Hi all! I’m a freshly ordained prophet.
I announce a prophecy: This cosmic smile of God is His sign to the Filipino people of the most glorious festival that will occur beginning very early in the year 2009. JESUS will rock the Philippines and the entire world will drop their jaws in amazing wonder. WE WILL BE A SIGN FOR EARTH as we proceed to proclaim and shout— That GOD is GOD and His ways are eternal.
MARK THIS WORD.
Inday with a smile 🙂
Dec 02, 2008 @ 14:26:02
yah.. i saw it too here in saudi arabia december 1, 2008 7PM (KSA time)
kaya kahit madaming problema.. napa SMILE na rin ako 🙂
Dec 02, 2008 @ 15:49:41
I had a very bad day, and looking at the smiley in the sky before my eyes really made my night. 😀
Thanks for sharing the photos, I wasnt able to take them in a moving car.
Dec 02, 2008 @ 16:39:26
hi jane. nice photo you got here. can i copy too. i promise i will leave credits to your page. thanks much! i was able to catch it last night too with my kids, too bad i didn’t have my camera with me.. so i hope your pictures would help me.. thanks 🙂
Jane: I appreciate your taking time to write me, Claire. Of course you can use the photo. And thank you for the photo credits.
Dec 02, 2008 @ 17:42:44
A good sign specially after the attack we have badly suffered and lost loved ones here in mumbai
Jane: I really feel sad about what happened in your country. I hope things get better there. Glad the smiley face made you feel better.
Dec 02, 2008 @ 18:53:45
Nice shot wish i saw it but it was cloudy at my place.
Dec 02, 2008 @ 19:44:16
What a treat!
Thank you Jane for these fantastic shots ^_^
Dec 02, 2008 @ 19:50:01
Hi Jane: Pretty amazing!!! Everything happening in the skies is interesting. Sometimes nature do surprises us, doesn’t it?
Dec 02, 2008 @ 20:10:19
beautiful photos… shame we have so much clouds around here those days…
allways great to be outside in place with no electrcity miles away…. desert nights shine longer
Dec 03, 2008 @ 00:35:02
These are great photos. It’s a wonderful sky.
Dec 03, 2008 @ 01:38:04
This is so cool. You’ve got a clear view of the sky. I live in the Metro Manila too, but the buildings and houses were blocking the sky and I could see it from only one angle. A pleasant end to a not-so-pleasant day. Thank you for posting pictures!
Dec 03, 2008 @ 12:31:05
haha i wrote about it too.
was it the most awesome thing ever? hope it brings us a hefty amount of good luck 😀
Dec 03, 2008 @ 17:56:45
Hi jane,what a nice picture. I’was unfortunelly by takiing that mo ment with my phone camera (batam island,ina),not so clear. We right here says”bulan terse nyum”pada bumi. A supranatural said in local newspaper,it’s lucky for a single old woman who saw that moment,will get married immedietely. Thank’s,would you mind I copy your picture for a memory use only?
Dec 06, 2008 @ 21:31:12
I loved that night. I tried to take photos but it did not come out clear. I like your shots.
Dec 17, 2008 @ 14:50:42
It’s amazing how you captured the sky’s surprise that evening! 🙂