In Memorium...

This is an amazing scene that I pass every Wednesday night.  It is located in front of Huntington Town Hall, and is called Huntington Veterans Park.  What you are seeing is only about one-quarter of the flags that are on display.  Based on previous years, these flags will be up for several months, and then will be taken down.  I assume these are up for Veteran's Day, and they also have them up for Memorial Day, if I recall correctly.  It is such a powerful memorial, especially at night.

Halloween Comes Early!

This looks strange, which is the whole point of why I took this photo.  We had another Moon and planet watch at the Cradle of Aviation this evening, with members of two astronomy clubs there with their telescopes.  This is my friend Linda and her automated telescope.  The telescope is expected to be used at night, for the most part, and the problem is that the controller for the telescope is a computer tablet.  But since we were setting up in bright daylight, she had trouble reading her tablet.  I said "I have just the answer for you!"  I went to the car and found a "dark cloth" in my trunk.  Dark cloths are used with 4x5 view cameras, in order to compose and focus an image.  So with this draped over her, and her controller, she was able to get her telescope working.

The Sun is Out!

Just like last night's forecast, the sun is out today!  Oh happy day!  Blue sky and sunshine!  I was able to set up my telescope this morning, and do my first drawing of sunspots on the sun in almost two weeks.  It was perfect weather for a bike ride - sunny and 65 degrees.  My favorite time of year for bike riding!  So the sun is out, and all is right with the world.

I Am Tired of Clouds!

These are beautiful clouds.  So many lovely colors of gray.  But I have to confess, I am tired of clouds at this point.  I want to see the Sun.  I have my sunspot drawings to do.  It has been, it seems, much  more than two weeks without any sun at all.  I need sunshine!  It is funny, but I do find that sunshine affects my mood.  I feel much better when the sun is out.  The good news is that I just went outside tonight and the stars are out!  It is clear!  Sunshine tomorrow! Oh happy day!

The Screech Owl

This is another photograph from the Kidsfest that I attended with our astronomy club.  The same group that showed the beautiful orange Corn snake also brought along this beautiful Screech owl!  Isn't he just amazing?  He is unexpectedly quite small - probably only nine-inches tall.  He arrives in a hollowed-out piece of tree trunk, covered with a burlap.  He feels more comfortable sitting in the dark, when he is transported.  But he is quite happy to sit on his handler's black glove, to which he is tied by a strip of leather, while people get to examine him up close.

50 Years of Service

This is Sister Ann,  and today she celebrated fifty years of taking her vows as a nun!  During the service today, she repeated her vows in front of the congregation, as well as a number of priests from churches where she served during her career, who returned for the ceremony.  After the service, there was a reception for her in the parish hall.  It was a wonderful celebration for someone who has devoted her life to service in the church.

The Blue Period

There is a time of day, long after the sun sets, called the blue period.  The light of the sun is "warm" in comparison to the light from the blue sky.  After the warm light goes away with the setting sun, as it gets darker, the light outside is blue.  You may have seen this if you think about it - perhaps you were in your house and had put a lamp on because it was getting dark out.  Then you look out your window, and notice that it is blue outside, as seen through the window.  I think this blue light does an amazing thing with the gardens outside the dining room window.