Heavenly Spheres

Astronomers have (probably - tbc) discovered a saturn-like planet orbiting Alpha Centauri - our nearest cosmic neighbour, 'only' 4.25 light years away. It will be the closest planet orbiting a sun-like star in the 'habitable zone' (it's not cool to say the 'goldilocks zone' any more). Being a gas giant, like saturn, it is almost impossible that it would support life, but it might have moons...

I have never seen Alpha Centauri. Well actually, I probably have - I lived south of the equator for two years and visited a couple more times, but I wasn't curious enough to take a proper interest in astronomy or wise enough to think, "I may never come here again". Squandered youth and all that. It is the third brightest star in the southern sky, but not visible from here

It is tantalising to me to think that something so intriguing is within touching distance, compared with anything else outside the solar system. It feels reasonable to think that one day we might send a craft there (crewed by AI robots?) that could send back information within a human lifetime or two. "Hi Mom. I'm settling in well and making friends"

The greengages made me think of planets and stars - especially as Alpha Centauri is actually a complex three-star system, which makes planet-spotting particularly arduous. There is definitely something transiting one of these; I didn't see it when I took the photo, so no idea what it is. As well as being the first time this tree has yielded significant fruit, it's also the first time I've been aware of the exquisite colouring (of some of them), like a landscape feature

I visited and opened three beehives and picked from five or six fruit trees. I saw one wasp. There is a little fruit that has been damaged by wasps, but no individuals still there. It has been hot, bright and wind-free; perfect for them. I'm baffled - the universe is full of mysteries