A Northern Sunrise

Back on May 26, when I flew from Washington, DC, to Geneva, Switzerland, the final rays of sunset lit the western horizon equally nosotros passed over Nova Scotia; past times the fourth dimension nosotros reached Newfoundland, it was totally dark.  Within approximately other hour, however, equally nosotros flew eastward to a higher house the North Atlantic, the glow of "sunrise" spread across the northern horizon too persisted until nosotros angled southeastward toward the coast of Ireland; past times then, the eastern sunrise had begun to illuminate the landscape.

That "northern sunrise" was, of course, the southern extent of the perpetual daylight that occurs to a higher house the Arctic Circle during the calendar month preceding too the calendar month next the summertime solstice.  The contestation of the Earth's axis produces this annual phenomenon also equally the perpetual darkness surrounding the wintertime solstice.

As alongside close natural spectacles, it was a affair of beingness inwards the correct house (i.e. latitude) at the correct time.  Had nosotros crossed the Atlantic further south, I would non accept seen the "northern sunrise."   

Perseids From The Sky

On my regular flights betwixt Colorado in addition to Missouri, I am commonly focused on the ground, studying the topography in addition to rivers; should it live on a nighttime flight, I sentinel for metropolis lights, observing the sequence of towns in addition to cities that I get got come upwards to memorize from my numerous route trips.

But tonight, equally I wing from Denver to Columbia, Missouri, I volition live on watching the sky.  This is the annual pinnacle nighttime for the Perseid Meteor Shower, produced past times remnant debris from the Swift-Tuttle Comet.  As the populace crosses the comet's path some the sun, the dust particles collide amongst in addition to ignite inwards our atmosphere, producing numerous meteors.  The Perseids are oft abundant in addition to are expected to growth inwards coming decades equally the comet's path to a greater extent than closely aligns amongst the ambit of our planet.

As I write this weblog from Denver International Airport, sunset in addition to our takeoff are nonetheless 2 hours away simply the radar shows that atmospheric precipitation is minimal betwixt hither in addition to Columbia, suggesting that high clouds volition non obscure my view.  Though the meteors are best observed later midnight, I promise to run across many from 30,000 feet, far removed from the "light pollution" on the ground.

The Beaver Moon

November's amount moon, currently brightening the nighttime sky, is commonly known every bit the "Beaver Moon," a designation attributed to the Algonquin Tribe together with immediately imbedded inwards American folklore.  The advert reflects the fact that beaver are specially active at this fourth dimension of year, repairing their dams together with lodges together with storing nutrient for the wintertime months.  The latter unremarkably consists of minor deciduous trees together with limbs that are placed underwater for sustenance spell H2O ice coats the current or pond.

My married adult woman together with I, frequent visitors to Philips Lake inwards southeast Columbia, convey of late noted extensive beaver harm to minor trees along the 40-acre lake.  Once a farm pond, the lake is stocked amongst fish yesteryear the Missouri Department of Conservation together with the surrounding state was dedicated every bit the A. Perry Philips Park inwards 2011.  This is the get-go twelvemonth that nosotros convey noticed the beaver harm together with convey been surprised that these large rodents made their agency upward from the nearby Gans Creek Valley.

If left alone, the beavers volition before long convey destroyed well-nigh of the minor trees together with shrubs along the lake together with ane wonders whether Park managers volition extirpate the squatters; such is ofttimes the dilemma faced yesteryear those charged volition balancing human recreation together with natural ecosystems.  I'm guessing the beaver volition move relocated (or worse).

Cold Satelite At Dusk

Road trips are non ever equally interesting equally nosotros mightiness hope, peculiarly when they cross familiar terrain.  Returning to Missouri today, the journeying across the Great Plains was far from exciting, despite the sunny, pleasant weather.

The dry out wintertime landscape, relatively devoid of wild fauna (except for numerous rough-legged hawks inwards Western Kansas) was non just scenic; indeed, solely the rust-colored grasslands of the Flint Hills qualified for that designation.  However, equally I crawled through Kansas City during rush hour, the sum Dec Luna rose inwards the twilight of dusk. 

Known equally the Cold Moon, for obvious reasons, it is oft peculiarly brilliant equally it gleams through the dry out wintertime air.  More than a beautiful natural nightlight, the Luna reminds us of Earth's vehement nativity in addition to early on history, when our lonely satellite was ripped away from the molten planet during its collision alongside a smaller planetoid (some 4.6 billion years ago).  Pummeled in addition to cratered yesteryear debris for millions of years, the Luna gradually established its compass just has since been drifting away.  As brilliant equally it was today, the Luna was much larger in addition to brighter inwards appearance when dinosaurs roamed the planet in addition to when our outset primate ancestors explored Earth's ancient forests.

Happy Novel Human Year!

On this get-go 24-hour interval of the human twelvemonth 2019, nosotros must in 1 trial again admit that it has no correlation amongst nature's year, which begins amongst the wintertime solstice.  The sun's oestrus as well as low-cal is vital to all life on our planet as well as the solar bike is hence the close appropriate Definition of a twelvemonth on Earth.

Regardless of how nosotros mightiness define the year, let's promise that humans renew their commitment to the wellness of Planet globe as well as brand every endeavor to facial expression upwards the political, industrial, agricultural as well as social forces that threaten natural ecosystems.  We tin contribute past times supporting conservation organizations, past times voting for politicians who are committed to the welfare of our surroundings as well as past times reducing our personal touching on the planet.

Let's equally good promise that American leadership is before long restored when it comes to dealing amongst climate change, environmental pollution as well as the protection of vital habitat.  Of course, that destination volition depend upon the willingness of Congress to neutralize Trump as well as his Administration, either via impeachment or through veto-proof, bi-partisan legislation.  There is currently footling argue to hold off either volition spill out exactly a novel twelvemonth brings renewed hope.

Venus-Jupiter Conjunction

This morning, every bit the root calorie-free of dawn spread across the eastern horizon, Venus too Jupiter were paired inward the southeastern sky.  They convey been "approaching" 1 or then other inward the morn sky for the past times calendar week too volition directly gradually form out every bit the calendar month progresses.

Venus, much brighter from our advantage point, volition slow sink toward the eastern horizon spell Jupiter volition deed higher inward the morn sky.  The "conjunction" of our 2 brightest neighbors was closest yesterday morn only clouds obscured the spectacle along the Colorado Front Range.

Such astronomical events, spell inspiring to observe, are deceptive, a mere production of our advantage indicate hither on Earth; Venus too Jupiter stay every bit far apart every bit usual.  Nevertheless, nosotros humans convey long been fascinated past times the get of heavenly bodies too hold off for or then mystical significance when they exceed inward the night.

Spring As Well As The Equinox

For those of us who alive inwards the Northern Hemisphere, the jump equinox occurs today, when the sun's radiations falls lead on the equator; for individuals inwards the Southern Hemisphere, it is the autumn equinox.  While this astronomical Definition of the flavour makes feel from a global betoken of view, it has piffling to exercise amongst the onslaught of "spring conditions."

Spring has been unfolding across southern latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere for the yesteryear calendar month or so, equally flowers in addition to greenery adorn the landscape in addition to severe thunderstorms, around amongst devastating tornadoes, stimulate got ravaged the countryside.  Farther north, across Temperate latitudes, subtle signs of the flavour stimulate got likewise been apparent for weeks (crocuses in addition to skunk cabbage pushing through the frozen soil, chorus frogs calling from icy ponds in addition to a nifty of birdsong, to refer a few); nevertheless, polar fronts in addition to snowstorms proceed to threaten the region.  Even further northward (across the Arctic in addition to sub-Arctic) in addition to inwards the high elevations of our mount ranges, jump weather condition may non brand it for 2 months or more.

Indeed, despite the ubiquitous pronouncements on this "First Day of Spring," the flavour is a continuum, determined yesteryear latitude, superlative in addition to atmospheric patterns, the latter varying from twelvemonth to year.  Those of us along the Colorado Front Range, anticipating periods of snowfall into May in addition to regularly gazing toward the snow-covered peaks to our west, are less inclined to stimulate got a strict Definition of the season. 

A Super Worm Moon

The championship "Worm Moon" has been given to the amount Luna of March, referring to reason changes inwards the Temperate Zone of the Northern Hemisphere at this fourth dimension of year.  Occuring inwards concert amongst a thawing of the soil, which brings worms toward the surface (and robins onto our lawns), this year's Worm Luna too coincides amongst the vernal (spring) equinox.

In addition, this year's Worm Luna occurs close the perigee of the moon's reach unopen to the Earth, the closest it comes to our planet.  This makes the Luna seem close 10% larger than an average amount moon, prompting the championship of Super Moon.

Rising higher upward the Eastern Colorado Plains this evening, the Super Worm Luna was sure impressive.  While both our beautiful satellite together with the "lowly" earthworms are oblivious of human terminology, they are no less vital to our welfare.

Harvest Moon

Tonight's total Moon is the Harvest Moon, named at a fourth dimension when moonlight was essential for completing move inwards the crop fields.  Its cite has since been given to the total Moon closest to the tumble equinox as well as it thence may hap inwards September or early on October.

For those of us non involved with agriculture, it is the total Moon that heralds the glorious flavor of autumn, when mild, dry out atmospheric condition prevails as well as when the nights are crisp as well as invigorating.  Depending on where nosotros live, nosotros anticipate a reprieve from the oestrus as well as humidity of summertime as well as await forrad to the painted woodlands, the bugling of elk, the outset snowstorm as well as the waves of migrant waterfowl, alongside other seasonal spectacles.

Long enamored with this season, I am specially appreciative of its many gifts during the tumble of my years.  Tonight's total Moon is to a greater extent than than an astronomical event; it is a reminder to reap the rewards as well as opportunities of this life earlier the trials of wintertime arrive.