What I'm thinking about are the night skies and what we can see and enjoy.
We've had a week or two of very clear weather. I get up at 7:00 AM and usually take a look out the window. I noticed a very bright object in the southeast sky. It was obviously a planet as it didn't twinkle. finally I used my sky watch app to see what was out there. It turned out to be Venus. A little higher up and to the right is Mars. I could see these from my window. In line with Venus and Mars is Jupiter, but you have to go outside to see Jupiter because it's further west and maybe is northwest. .
So if you have some clear mornings take a look at the sky. These planets rise around 3 or 4 AM. They set sometime in mid afternoon or early evening. You can check for times if you check a chart. You may see Venus again at sunset.
This week there is a meteor shower that I'm looking forward to. The Gemini's meteor shower will happen this weekend. Look in the eastern sky. The peak will be Dec. 13-14 night. You should see meteors Dec. 12-15. Now most of the activity will be after midnight? If it's clear, I'll be up.
As for meteors there's one I'll never forget. Half a dozen of us were in the farmyard in the middle of a very bright Sunday afternoon. In the north west sky there was a brilliant flash and a trail of smoke. All of us were startled. Being very young at the time we did not think of a meteor in the daytime. It was a mystery until later newscasts reported the meteor and the flash was explained.
By the way , there are many free apps for looking in the night sky. These apps tell you what you're looking at.
So do you watch night skies?
I love to look at the sky in the daytime, there is so often something interesting to see up there. At night, I like it when the moon lights up everything. But the stars always seem too far away to concern me...
ReplyDeleteStars planets and galaxies are the cool things. Thanks for visiting Hiawatha House.
DeleteAt night I mostly sleep and don't look at the skies only in the evening to watch there is a full moon.
ReplyDeleteWell, I don't spend much time but sometimes interesting things come up.
Deletei saw that alignment of moon and planets a few weeks ago. really cool.
ReplyDeleteYes, that was really cool.
DeleteGreat memory from your childhood Red. I have never seen anything like that. Thank you for the tip on the astronomy apps. I often look up at the sky and would enjoy knowing what I am seeing.
ReplyDeleteHey, these apps are free too!
DeleteI go out most days when I awaken. I enjoy watching all the progression of planets, and will be looking forward to the meteor shower.
ReplyDeleteThe city is too light for a good view.
DeleteI do! I listen to the coyotes, watch the deer ambling about. It's lovely!
ReplyDeleteNight in the country is alive. Yes lots of travellers and noises.
DeleteI've always loved watching the night skies. My first pair of binoculars was bought for me to do just that. The bird watching came later! I still use the same pair 45 years later. The most memorable night this year was seeing lunar eclipse at Writing on Stone in October. Once the eclipse became total, the dark sky revealed the Milky Way - a sight I will never forget.
ReplyDeleteI remember the Milky way in Ssk when I was a kid on the farm. the Milky way was obvious in the north too. we don't see it in town here.
DeleteI do. And I especially love the night sky when it's clear and I can see the stars. It's quite magical.
ReplyDeleteWe don't spend enough time out at night and enjoying the light show. The forecast here looks bad for the meteor shower.
DeleteWhen Mrs. Chatterbox and I take cruises I love to wander the deck at night looking at the starry canopy overhead.
ReplyDeleteHey, I never thought about a cruise being an opportunity for seeing the night sky.
DeleteI like the moon but I am a early bird to go to bed. Yet I am not a early bird for the times you mention. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz thats me.
ReplyDeleteI have seen the stars in the summer time at night. Beautiful .
now I am looking at your blog.
It is wonderful that picture.
Well, I hope you don't go to bed earlier than I do...10:30 PM. It's too early but I read.
DeleteWe are big on star watching, too, and love the phone app that tells us what we are looking at. It's one of the benefits of living out in the country -- no light pollution obliterating the stars! Thanks for the heads up on the meteor showers thIs weekend.
ReplyDeleteYou're lucky to be in the country with less light.
DeleteI've always enjoyed getting far enough into the country that on a clear night you can see the sweep of the Milky Way.
ReplyDeleteIt's well worth while to spending some time out looking at the night sky.
DeleteSometimes I watch the evening sky, but I have to admit I'm often asleep in the summer months. In winter, I can stay up to see all the wonders of the night sky! :-)
ReplyDeleteIf you're an early riser take a look in the morning
DeleteI love the night sky! We have so many trees to view the whole sky I have to get in the car and go down the road. I never tire of looking for constellations and planets. Have you seen the space station? That is a thrill! :)
ReplyDeleteSince I live in the city, I don't pay much attention to the night skies. But when I'm out in the boonies camping, I do notice how much brighter the stars are.
ReplyDeleteOh yes! We're definite sky gazers. We even went out into the cornfield to try to find Haley's comet and never did actually see it. How fabulous that you actually saw a meteor. Wow! We are so jealous!
ReplyDeleteIt seems an age since I was able to see beautiful night skies. Our weather since April has been so dire all I've seen night and day for 98% of the time is clouds. They are or may be beautiful but one can have too much of a good thing.
ReplyDelete