Not only is it a new moon, there was also another thing in the sky to look out for.

It’s not as if two worlds will collide tonight — Venus and Jupiter are only converging into a small area of the Earth’s sky. NASA says the two bright planets will be “a jaw-dropping one-third of a degree apart.”

That distance is smaller than the width of a full moon, as seen from Earth’s surface.

“You’ll be able to hide the pair not just behind the palm of your outstretched hand, but behind your little pinky finger,” NASA says.

And unlike some other astronomical phenomena, this convergence should be easily visible: Just look to the west around sunset. That’s where you’ll find Venus and Jupiter, if the sky is relatively clear.

“Conjunctions between Venus and Jupiter are far from rare events,” notes Space.com. But the site adds that tonight’s “unusually close” conjunction is worth seeing — and it adds that this is both the closest and the last pairing between the two planets in the current 24-year cycle.

From our little patch in West Auckland I got a great view, in between the rushing clouds. No photos as I only had the phone so this one’s from Stuff (a local news website). It’s from someone who works at the Observatory at Mt St John near Tekapo:

July 2 – Topic: Reality or Fantasy. Which do you prefer to stitch? Figures or Abstract? (via Jo)

Today is also the first of the July WIPocalypses. It’s a Blue Moon month as there will be two full moons. I thought about Jo’s question overnight and came to the conclusion that there’s a degree of Fantasy in most of the stitching I do, even if only snow on a Christmas piece (there isn’t usually snow in NZ in December). I haven’t done many Reality pieces unless you can count Mira’s as partial reality – maybe the birds? Sorry Jo, not much of an answer there.

See? Reality with Fantasy.

But I would much rather stitch or view Figures over Abstract. I read “abstract” and my brain stops at Picasso.

And last for today, here’s my YCQM. As usual, this ties into my One Little Word, Serenity.  It’s a reminder not to take people’s opinion of me to heart, especially when they read “Christian” and assume “bigot” or “small-minded”. For you it will be something else – that’s the beauty of God’s work. We’re all unique.