Tuesday, December 09, 2008

I'm So Irritated That I Missed This

Did anybody catch this? It was cloudy. Suck.

11 comments:

Becky said...

I saw it. I tried to take a picture but couldn't get the night setting right.

Don't worry ... it will happen again on November 28, 2052.

Anonymous said...

What, exactly, is it? Just looks like a crescent moon to me.

Douglas said...

I was driving back home from Pagosa Springs, CO taking a detour near El Vado lake in the Middle of Nowhere, NM when I stopped to get a picture. It was a pretty amazing sight. Unfortunately, I don't know how to work my new camera, so I'm not sure how it turned out. I like the picture you posted, though.

You might consider moving to a place that gets clear skies more often if you like that sort of thing...

MB

Seth Ward said...

Kate, it's kinda hard to capture with a camera but, Venus and Jupiter were uniquely aligned with the moon to where they appeared extraordinarily bright. Me nerd.

I think I'm right there but I've got some pretty heavy-hitting scientists and amateur astronomer-READERS who will correct me if I jack that up.

MB, yeah... that is something I miss. However, you wouldn't believe it but I can see the stars better in NYC than I did in Houston. NYC is one of the greenest cities in the US. Public transportation, baby. So, from my deck, smack dab in the middle of Manhattan, I can see the stars pretty decent. So, nyah.

Electric Monk said...

Saw it high and bright from here in H-town.

Douglas said...

"So, from my deck, smack dab in the middle of Manhattan, I can see the stars pretty decent. So, nyah."

Dude, from my deck, 15 minutes from the city (but on the other side of the mountains), I can see the milky way on a good night. One man's treasure is another man's junk.

So, 'nyah' right back at ya.

MB

Seth Ward said...

Electric, One thing that was cool about the pollution in Houston was that it did color a very nice sunset. The moon was often blood red or yellow too! I always though that was cool.

Mamasboy, Milky way? What's that? I obviously can't compete with the Arizona night skies. I will admit my jealously of the milky way comment and move on. I can see the big dipper. Sometimes I can see ursa minor. You win. You have the better view.

Becky said...

Don't give in that easily, Seth. You have the naked cowboy.

majorsteve said...

When ya'll talk about "pollution" in Houston or New York alongside astronomy you are referring to air pollution, primarily particulates. But there is another kind of pollution that has more impact on astronomy: light pollution. While Houston probably has a higher level of air pollution, it has a much smaller level of light pollution than NYC. Also, the air pollution from cars and the ship channel refinery areas is blown away by prevaling winds from northwest to southeast. The air pollution in north and nw Houston is less than in Austin, TX and is about the same as in Brenham, TX. Light pollution is signficant but primarly affects only our southern sky here in the suburbs. I wish all those rude-ass elitist yuppy artsy urbanites would for once display a little courtesy and turn off their lights every now and then so we could show our children a constellation. We might return the favor by taking the bus downtown. ;)

Seth Ward said...

I wondered about the light pollution thing and air pollution was my only explanation... When I lived in the Heights, and then later inside the loop I couldn't see jack crap for stars. From my deck here in the city, I see plenty!

About the air pollution being blown away... well, all I can say is that it sure didn't feel or smell that way! I had a layer of soot on my windshield I had to clean off every week when I lived in Houston. Maybe I just sniffed on the bad days. ;^)

One time I walked outside and my eyes were stinging. I later learned they had a CO2 warning out for the city.

No, I was perfectly ready to say goodbye to the stars when I moved up here but I've been pleasantly surprised!

To Houston's credit, Sugarland was better and many stars were seen. But Sugarland is about the best place to live, IMO, in or around Houston. Some of the neighborhoods look straight out of a Kinkade painting.

However, I'm simply too hot natured for it, if I can help it, I think. The humidity just about killed me. I scoff at the complainers up here when it gets humid and a little sweaty. The stars were great though.

As for stars, still to this day, the best place I've ever lived for star gazing was Indiana. We got the milky way just about every night. Amazing.

Baca's Head said...

I saw it! Man, I was going to call you, but I forgot! It was amazing! I felt like I was looking into some astronomical sign!