Oh screw

[Enzo]

Like the ancient Egyptians and Maya, I watch the sky for omens. This morning in the predawn sky I first noted Orion the Hunter for this season. WHile it is a swell attractive constellation, it is also the harbinger of the coming death and desolation that is winter. When he shows up, summer is trying to wind down. Foo. I like things green and alive - like the dairy products in my refrigerator.

The only positive was that I finally spotted Venus in the morning sky. Due to clouds and whatall - hey, this is Michigan - I had not yet seen her since she left the evening sky. I find solace in her presence up there.

[KLA2]

My favourite constellation. Always has been. I am no fan of winter either ... but for anyone interested in astronomy, it means more hours of darkness, starting earlier, and no mosquitoes while viewing! :wink:

[troubleagain]

Well, for you Michiganders, it may be a harbinger of death, doom and other gloomy things, for us Floridians, it means we'll soon be able to go outdoors and not melt.

[KLA2]

Hey, TA, another simulpost. [weird music} OooohWeeeeHoooo …}

Re. my comment about mosquitoes, also wanted to mention I was told that insect repellant will etch / destroy the coatings on mirrors, lenses, eyepieces etc. Sprays are particularly dangerous in this respect.

[pmcolt]

The rise of Orion in the night sky is nothing but a positive sign for me. I live in a wooded suburb, which means that in the summer, I'm surrounded by leafy oak trees, nearby city lights, and mosquitoes. (And normally, daily thunderstorms, but we're having a severe drought this year.) But Orion signals the onset of cooler weather; soon the temperatures will drop, the leaves will fall, the mosquitoes will go away, and I'll have a few months of clear, calm skies. (Also, Orion is a hunter, so maybe he'll take down some of the deer that ate every plant in our garden this year. )

(I'm careful of spraying bug spray anywhere near my optics for that very reason, KLA2. Someone once told me that DEET will strip camouflage paint right off an army tank. I've never tried it myself, mind you, but it sounds like a fun experiment.)

[umop ap!sdn]

Well, for you Michiganders, it may be a harbinger of death, doom and other gloomy things, for us Floridians, it means we'll soon be able to go outdoors and not melt.

I was just gonna say the same thing about Arizona!

The winter constellations are really pretty, all those bright stars and clusters.

[Enzo]

Stars and clusters? Get yourself an army general.

[umop ap!sdn]

Only if that's a brand of binoculars.