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[...] one such dark sky holdout in the form of Dunham Farms, Georgia. Fans will recall our journey around the Florida peninsula and across the border into Georgia during the preceding weeks. Well, [...]
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[...] Week 1, [...]
The Sky is Waiting.
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Pictured is a Delta IV rocket launch from Cape Canaveral on November 21st, 2010. The image is a 20 second exposure taken at dusk, shot from about 100 miles west of the launch site. The launch placed a classified payload in orbit for the United States Air Force.
Difficult but not impossible to catch against the dawn or dusk sky, spotting an extreme crescent moon can be a challenge. The slender crescent pictured was shot 30 minutes before sunrise when the Moon was less than 20 hours away from New. A true feat of visual athletics to catch, a good pair of binoculars or a well aimed wide field telescopic view can help with the hunt.
The Sun is our nearest star, and goes through an 11-year cycle of activity. This image was taken via a properly filtered telescope, and shows the Sun as it appeared during its last maximum peak in 2003. This was during solar cycle #23, a period during which the Sun hurled several large flares Earthward. The next solar cycle is due to peak around 2013-14.
Located in the belt of the constellation Orion, Messier 42, also known as the Orion Nebula is one of the finest deep sky objects in the northern hemisphere sky. Just visible as a faint smudge to the naked eye on a clear dark night, the Orion Nebula is a sure star party favorite, as it shows tendrils of gas contrasted with bright stars. M42 is a large stellar nursery, a star forming region about 1,000 light years distant.
Orbiting the planet in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) every 90 minutes, many people fail to realize that you can see the International Space Station (ISS) from most of the planet on a near-weekly basis. In fact, the ISS has been known to make up to four visible passes over the same location in one night. The image pictured is from the Fourth of July, 2011 and is a 20 second exposure of a bright ISS pass.
Next to the Sun, the two brightest objects in the sky are the Moon and the planet Venus. In fact, when Venus is favorably placed next to the Moon, it might just be possible to spot the two in the daytime. Another intriguing effect known as earthshine or ashen light is also seen in the image on the night side of the Moon; this is caused by sunlight reflected back off of the Earth towards our only satellite.
A mosaic of three images taken during the total lunar eclipse of December 21st, 2010. The eclipse occurred the same day as the winter solstice. The curve and size of the Earth’s shadow is apparent in the image.
The Algonquin Indians had names for each of the seasonal Full Moons, many of which survive today. The Full Snow Moon pictured occurs in the month of December, when the first large winter storms coat the ground with snow. This Full Moon also tends to fall near the Winter Solstice, and thus rides high in the nightly sky opposite to the Sun on long winter nights.
Every rocket launch is unique, but twilight shuttle launches where by far the most impressive. The image pictured was of the April 5th, 2010 launch of Space Shuttle Discovery from the Kennedy Space Center at dawn. The exhaust plume caught the rising Sun overhead just right, and numerous noctilucent clouds persisted right up until sunrise. Unfortunately, space shuttle launches are now relegated to the pages of history.
In Search of the Green Flash & More in Naples, Florida!
A Florida Gulf Coast sunset!
(All photos by author).
Sometimes, you have to go just beyond your own backyard to catch what you’ve traveled the world for and never seen. Earlier this week saw the start of our triumphant “return to the road,” and our grand tour of the U.S. southeast. We’ll be reporting on our adventures from the road weekly, and of course, you can always follow our daily escapades, musings, and ramblings on Twitter @Astroguyz, 3G willing.
Our first stop was an overnight at the fine Hyatt Regency just stumbling/walking distance from the Clearwater Beach Uncorked event in Clearwater, Florida. This was a fine drinking and eating event right on the beach, sans shoes and very causal.
Mmmm… vino…
We sampled a fine pumpkin liquor, some awesome sushi, a snort of Pig’s Nose Scotch whiskey, and much, much more! We even had an astro-wine sighting;
A vision shifting vino!
But it was farther south that we discovered a true gem of the Florida Gulf Coast. For many, Naples Florida is merely where you “turn left” enroute to Miami, but we found it to be a fine nature and dining experience on its own. We spent the very first night at the excellent Inn on 5th, a grand old structure (and a former bank!) turned into a hotel. The Inn is just above McCabe’s Irish Pub & Grill, a real Irish pub that was literally brought over from Dublin, Ireland brick by brick.
Our second night in Naples was at the excellent Double-Tree Inn for some outstanding Thai Food and Sushi at Charlie Chiang’s (follow them as @CChiangsNaples on Twitter) adjacent to the hotel.
But the tour of the mangrove forests just off shore was the highlight of the trip. We did two tours with Naples Marina & Excursions Inc. to explore the nature and wild life up close. We would heartily recommend both. The sunset cruise not only got us up close and personal with the wildlife, but was the first time that we managed to catch the elusive green flash;
Caused by the atmospheric refraction of the Sun’s last rays, we’ve never seen this elusive event. A flat, uncluttered horizon and clear steady air is needed to see it, conditions that frequently occur off of the Gulf Coast of Florida. Florida is also a birders paradise, and you just might cross that elusive blue heron or other spurious bird sighting off of your “life list.”
But if you want to get really up close, the kayak tour may be more your speed. Be ready to get wet, and block off about three to four hours and be ready for a moderately strenuous affair. It’s fascinating to see the ecology of the mangrove forests, with plants uniquely adapted for the salt water environment. Florida’s network of mangrove forests is one of the largest in the world.
Florida Dolphins in action.
Dolphins are also part of the Florida ecosystem, and we got the chance to catch these fascinating creatures in action on the Dolphin Explorer tour. Part of the 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project, this citizen science project broadcasts live to classrooms worldwide. The project also identifies and tracks individual dolphins in an effort to characterize the local marine population. It’s fascinating to see these creatures in the wild, or just stand on a deserted beach on an island off of the large main Marco Island.
Alone (but together) on a beach somewhere in Florida…
One of our best dining experiences thus far was Tommy Bahamas. The very first original “island store” is located in Naples, and they have an excellent and diverse vegetarian menu as well as some great signature fish dishes.
An action-packed transit across “alligator alley” saw us arrive at the fine Colony Hotel in on the Atlantic coast of Florida in Palm Beach. The Colony is a hotel in the grand old style of the early 20th century, complete with olden style elevators and an old multi-story slot mail drop chute! (Hey, we notice such things!) A memorable Spaghetti Nite was observed at the Buccan, complete with black truffle ravioli & gnocchi (and copious amounts of vino!)
Kicking back!
& what’s next? Well, we’re resuming a slow arc northward along the Florida Atlantic coast this week. Scopes (plural) are packed, and we may stop by and review a dark sky site near YOU. Stay tuned for more adventures and dispatches from “Behind the Deep-Fried Curtain!”