Last night was super exciting because I heard Mars and Venus were gonna cozy up in the sky. Grabbed my old folding lawn chair, a lukewarm coffee thermos, and headed to my backyard around 6 PM – way too early apparently since both planets were still hiding like shy kids.

The Waiting Game Sucks

Sat there squinting at the sunset colors for nearly an hour. Used Sky Map free app since my eyesight’s garbage – turned out Venus pops out first like a stubborn bright dot. Almost mistook it for a drone until more stars appeared around it.

Spotting Mars Was Tricky

Thought Mars would be fire-engine red but nah. That sucker looked like a faded orange peppercorn floating right under Venus. Had to hold my phone sideways comparing constellations until the app finally confirmed: yep, that’s our rusty neighbor.

My ghetto setup:
• Phone propped on cereal box for stability
• Cheap binoculars from garage sale ($5!)
• Bug spray – mosquitoes love astro-geeks

Why Bother With Binoculars?

Because naked eye shows you two boring dots. Binoculars? Suddenly Venus looks like a tiny crescent moon! Mars shapes into a faint marble. Felt like unlocking secret bonus levels. Tried snapping photos but my phone just captured black soup with greasy smudges.

Left after 30 minutes when neck cramps hit. Super simple win though – no telescope armies needed. Pro tip: Check sunset times next time instead of guessing like a doofus.