The alignment of six planets  91裸聊视频� Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Saturn, and Venus 91裸聊视频� this month has sky photographers abuzz.

While astronomers flock to places like the official Cattle Point Dark Skies Park in Oak Bay, Robert 91裸聊视频楲ucky91裸聊视频� Budd is stalking the stars from home not far away.

The Victoria writer and historian well known for award-winning collaboration books with renowned artist Roy Henry Vickers, Budd started sky photography in spring 2020 as a COVID-19 project.

Now he gets excited over clear skies and a waning moon.

91裸聊视频淭hese days we91裸聊视频檙e having incredibly clear skies,91裸聊视频� Budd told the Victoria News on Jan. 28. 91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 no moon right now. When you want to take photos of the sky you want to wait until it91裸聊视频檚 waning or there is no moon.91裸聊视频�

He feels incredibly lucky to live near the ocean with its many dark sky sites, and his own personal south-facing view.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e in a really rare thing where the planets are aligned in an arc,91裸聊视频� he said, noting it91裸聊视频檚 something that hasn91裸聊视频檛 happened since 949 CE.

Every 40 years the inner three line up, but getting them all is a big deal.

He91裸聊视频檚 shot impressive images of Jupiter and Saturn 91裸聊视频� and its moons Thetys, Enceladus and Mimas 91裸聊视频� from his backyard, but the 91裸聊视频渟tar nurseries91裸聊视频� keep calling to him.

Right now Orion is to the south just after sunset and the Orion Nebula is the closest 91裸聊视频渟tar-forming nursery to Earth,91裸聊视频� Budd said. 91裸聊视频淵ou can even see these with the naked eye if you know where to look,91裸聊视频�

The nebula is adjacent to Orion91裸聊视频檚 little sword, just below the three stars that make up Orion91裸聊视频檚 Belt.

The same constellation contains the Horsehead Nebula just below the first star in the belt. There, in the dusty shape of the equine, 91裸聊视频渂aby stars are being born.91裸聊视频� That one is not visible to the naked eye.

While clear skies are set to end as winter weather is expected imminently, Budd knows other opportunities will present themselves.