• Sony a6000
• Sony – 16mm f/2.8 E-Mount Wide-Angle Lens
• ISO – 800
• Exposure – 0.8s
• Aperture – f/6.3

I took this picture on the night of December 20th, 2020. A remarkable end to a year that will never be forgotten. Off the coast of San Diego, CA the Sun set as I waited for the two planets to become visible. It was one of the clearest evenings in California that I have ever experienced and the conditions were just right for this spectacular peculiarity. In the end, I couldn’t have asked for a better result after taking my photograph. The colors emanating from Earth’s atmosphere as our star drops below the horizon is depicted brilliantly and is an accurate representation of what was seen from the coast of the Golden State.

Once every 20 years, Jupiter and Saturn meet in our sky to perform a great dance over the planet. Legend says that this conjunction signifies a change taking place within humanity. Whether you believe in legends or not, it is evident in today’s world that great change is happening. In the year of Covid-19, the two largest planets in our solar system meet for a short period of time and then go their separate ways. If I was to subscribe some sort of symbolism to this event, I would say what it represents is fellowship and companionship. We go about our lives floating through space just as the two planetary giants do, but once in while we meet with one another and share our life experiences. With this event taking place during the holiday season, it’s a reminder of the real reason we celebrate. To be with friends, family, and cohorts, to share our lives, to love one another, and display to the heavens what it means to be alive.