tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5700728271731802119.post5986393308538164710..comments2024-03-16T13:29:45.711-07:00Comments on Dipper Ranch: De-Lovely MoonCindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13378411362651806039noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5700728271731802119.post-74790575410582601632012-01-04T18:50:44.040-08:002012-01-04T18:50:44.040-08:00Cindy: The bright star above and right (N)of the ...Cindy: The bright star above and right (N)of the moon is Capella in the constellation Auriga (4th brightest from N hemisphere). Giant red Betelgeuse (Orion's upper left shoulder) set about the same time as the moon a little further west(right.<br />I went to a secluded overlook in the Rocky Mountain Foothills and watched the lunar eclipse from just before dusk to sunrise. Great view of about 85-90% eclipsed moon sliding down the NE face of the snow covered Indian Peaks, followed by alpineglow! [If standing on top of "Big Indian" the fully eclipsed moon would have greeted the sunrise, which occured at the same time - an unusual occurance.] Alas I have no photo to share...but did have great views thru a spotting scope of the pre-umbral (shadowy), umbral (earth's shadow touching to partially covering moon) and near toatal eclipse. Got to see Jupiter set in the west when left the house, Mars and Saturn; and the bright stars Rigel & red giant Betelgeuse (Orion), brightest Sirius (Canis Major), Procyon (Canis Minor), Pollux (Gemini), red Alderbaran (Taurus), and Capella (Auriga)in the W/NW skies, Regulus in conjunction with Mars at the zenith; and very bright Arcturus high in the east, with yellow Saturn in conjunction with Spica (Virgo) in the SE and very bright Vega rising in the NE. So in addition to a near total eclipse, I enjoyed 3 planets and 11 of the 15 brightest stars seen from the northern hemisphere. It was a "stellar" experience, and well worth the temperatures in the teens!<br />The Earth's moon is huge and close compared to any other planet's moon, and the major cause of the tides. The Moon actually keeps the Earth from "wobbling" 10 degrees on it's axis. Believe the The earth only wobbles 4.5 degrees, from 25 degrees to 21.5 degrees, which causees Ice Ages" at 25 degrees and temperate poles with no ice most of the time. We are at 23.54 degrees and getting smaller, so moving from an "Ice Age" to a "Tropical Age". However this takes 100,000s of years. There is no question that human activity has greatly accelerated global warming.<br />Yes the bulge in the moon causes it to rotate only once every Earth rotation, so the same side faces us...however it does slowly turn relative to the Sun, and therefore does not have a "Dark Side". So maybe Pink Floyd was not astronomically correct, but it's still great music!Gary "Puck" Halseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01441851766364130529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5700728271731802119.post-68215555737027484322011-12-30T10:27:08.815-08:002011-12-30T10:27:08.815-08:00DT: you just need a lion hunter to arrange your s...DT: you just need a lion hunter to arrange your shooting schedule.Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13378411362651806039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5700728271731802119.post-70157173391694484092011-12-30T10:11:26.204-08:002011-12-30T10:11:26.204-08:00“I spend most of my time puzzling over things on t...“I spend most of my time puzzling over things on the earth's surface. I largely ignore the sky, just too much of it there”.<br /><br /> Pretty much sums it up for me, but after reading your tale I feel kind of foolish for just glancing at the eclipse on my way to “work” and thinking “oh that’s cool”. I guess next time I should drag my camera out and give it a shot. DTAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5700728271731802119.post-33905799175276281042011-12-27T18:20:24.435-08:002011-12-27T18:20:24.435-08:00Ah, nice! It was too foggy here in western Oregon ...Ah, nice! It was too foggy here in western Oregon to see the eclipse. Glad you had better luck!Patricia Lichenhttp://www.patriciaklichen.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5700728271731802119.post-10890329508303314692011-12-27T12:44:29.339-08:002011-12-27T12:44:29.339-08:00Jim: that's good. I'm slim on my Shakesp...Jim: that's good. I'm slim on my Shakespeare but glad to know it.Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13378411362651806039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5700728271731802119.post-90899397373622023302011-12-27T10:36:03.285-08:002011-12-27T10:36:03.285-08:00"Dark" as in "hidden from view"..."Dark" as in "hidden from view" or "unknown" ... cf "darkest Africa" or "dark horse". OED dates it to Shakespeare, like half of the rest of the language's figurative usages ;-)Jim Fnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5700728271731802119.post-75676732106168306362011-12-23T14:37:14.607-08:002011-12-23T14:37:14.607-08:00Here is a link to my post about the lunar eclipse ...Here is a link to my post about the lunar eclipse which pretty much says what NOT to do. Other than that I am no help. <br /><br />http://hwyfly.blogspot.com/2011/12/try-again-in-3-years.htmlJohn @ Beans and I on the Loosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09185975793295220723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5700728271731802119.post-45381587320909931012011-12-23T14:25:22.426-08:002011-12-23T14:25:22.426-08:00Brilliant lunacy! It was cloudy in my bit of the U...Brilliant lunacy! It was cloudy in my bit of the UK that day, so many thanks for sharing your experiences. As far as solar eclipses go, when our girls were smaller, I recall taking photos of the ground under trees, where the stomata of the leaves were acting as hundreds of pinhole cameras. Not as spectacular as totality, but impressive nonetheless. All the best for Christmas and the New Year. Best Wishes, GraemeImperfect and Tensehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07348507012722069785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5700728271731802119.post-66504002512969141672011-12-23T11:43:47.659-08:002011-12-23T11:43:47.659-08:00I don't usually bother to provide camera setti...I don't usually bother to provide camera settings but since I bugged my friends for them on their eclipse photos, I decided to include mine here. If you have recommendations on settings for a solar or lunar eclipse, I would love to hear it.Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13378411362651806039noreply@blogger.com