Which planet are we on, again?

Posted on January 20, 2009 | 10 Comments

Michael and I have parked at the grocery store to pick up a few last items for dinner.

He notices a very bright star in the sky.

“Hey, daddy?”

“What?”

“What’s that star?”

“Oh, that’s not a star, sport. That’s Jupiter.”

“Jupiter?”

“Yes, it’s a planet.”

“Like in Wall*E?”

“Yes, just like that.”

We walked a little farther, but he kept looking around up in the sky.

“Hey, daddy? Where’s Earth?”

——

Update: that planet that I thought was Jupiter is actually Venus. I’m a dad of four, so I claim child-induced brain damage.

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10 Responses to Which planet are we on, again?

  1. Chuck | January 20, 2009 at 6:44 pm |

    Ava has been showing more of an interest in space these days. It must blow their little minds when it kicks in that we have all taken up residence on this rock called earth, and then to realize there are more rocks out there.

    If I could just get her to wrap her head around the subject of time (today, tomorrow, yesterday, next week) we’d be doing just fine.

  2. Tom | January 20, 2009 at 7:43 pm |

    I’m looking forward to this summer when we can take Michael and his sisters to a nearby star-watching spot to REALLY see some stars.

    I have the same issue with time spans with Michael. And sometimes with his older sisters as well.

  3. Weaselmomma | January 21, 2009 at 4:13 am |

    I always thought that was Venus. Kids that age are funny.

  4. Tom | January 21, 2009 at 6:41 am |

    Venus is the brightest one, but it shows up less frequently, and is closer to the sun so it appears right after sunset at just before sunrise. Jupiter hangs out all night.

  5. Tyler Wainright | January 21, 2009 at 8:02 am |

    How in the world do you explain planets to a youngster? I can’t explain to her what city we live in!

  6. Tom | January 21, 2009 at 9:00 am |

    I never tried to explain them… I show them science fiction movies and let them catch what they can, and I’ll answer questions if they ask. I don’t know that you can really explain anything to a child younger than 30.

  7. Mike | January 21, 2009 at 2:15 pm |

    It’s alright, I had to explain the difference to my “adult” brother just the other day…

  8. Tom | January 21, 2009 at 3:06 pm |

    That must have been an interesting conversation. “All these years, and I thought…”

  9. NukeDad | January 22, 2009 at 6:21 am |

    Ah, ole Venus, eh? Earlier in the summer Venus and Mars were right next to each other. I showed the NukeBoys and they thought it was the coolest thing ever. Now they think I’m Buzz Aldrin.

  10. Tom | January 22, 2009 at 6:51 am |

    Were Venus and Mars all right? And were you, by any chance, sitting in a sports arena, waiting for the show to begin?