I should have remained indoors!

[stolenfeather]

August 28th, 2011

I hope this post doesn't often anyone for it is not my intention. I'm writing out of sheer disgust and frustration.

I was finally back in the north where stargazing was at it's best. My 10" Sky-Watcher had been waiting for me during the month of July but what had welcomed me home were not skies of bliss but heavens completely littered with clouds! I watched as one night blended with another and still I had no chance. School had started which limited my stargazing moments to the weekend. This Sunday, with the following school day looming, I simply couldn't take it anymore. It had been so long and the sky above finally showed windows of opportunity. The rest of the week, however, promised clouds. It had to be now BUT I had to come back in for 11:00pm. Staying up any longer would surely impair my teaching day. I therefore timed myself.

Upon heading outside, I knew that this would not be easy. Baseball fever had overtaken this little northern community and guess who lives right next to the baseball field:

The night around me was basked in light, as one would see when in the presence of a full moon. It was impossible to make out all the constellations but thought that I could navigate successfully in any case. My Telrad was overtaken by condensation which considerably added to my frustration.

I was losing a battle that had been won by the light from the very moment I had first stepped outside.

However, I wanted a taste, a glimmer of a view. Andromeda could still be seen right? All was not lost! That's when I heard it. It was coming from my neighbour's house. It was a rustling and then something else,...

Utterly disgusted I packed up my telescope and asked my husband to help me bring it in. "So soon?" he said. I looked at him and remained quiet as frustration set indeeper. The condensation had not broken my will. Neither did the excess light or the fact that I had little time. The vision of my neighbour's back relieving himself at the corner of his own house did. Come on! Your bathroom can't be that far! What's wrong with you?

Stargazing for me signifies a moment of release, where peace can be found in a world where chaos reigns. Way to bust my "peace bubble" buddy!

Tonight, the baseball field lights are off. Furthermore, there doesn't seem to be any sign of life in the house next door.

Maybe I could,..

Nah.

Never mind. It's raining.

Isabelle

[rabbithutch]

Is that pic current, Isabelle?

Our temperatures have been in the 90s F well into the late evening; so that coat and those boots look like torture apparatus.

Mind you the evening feels pleasant after 108, 109, 106, 108. Every day but 3 or 4 since the 15th of June have been above 100. That sound you hear is the sound of weather records breaking all over central Texas.

[JimStan]

And then, we on the east coast, had a little detail such as a HURRICANE to deal with !

[stolenfeather]

Yes, the picture is indeed current. I teach in the remote northern areas of Quebec. The autumn night chill comes out at night. This is very normal for this time of year. What can I say,... it seems there's polar bears out on the bay. Mind you I have never ventured out there to see them but have seen many caribou ant timber wolves on the road.

Isabelle

[stolenfeather]

I know, I should complain about the weather after others are experiencing droughts, hurricanes and tornadoes!

Isabelle

[rabbithutch]

Yes, the picture is indeed current. I teach in the remote northern areas of Quebec. The autumn night chill comes out at night. This is very normal for this time of year. What can I say,... it seems there's polar bears out on the bay. Mind you I have never ventured out there to see them but have seen many caribou ant timber wolves on the road.

Isabelle

Sounds delightful - the temps and the environment - but I'm afraid my blood has been so thinned now that I could never even visit that far North except on an exceptionally hot 4th of July.

Stay warm. And avoid those white bears!

[stolenfeather]

Bob,

If you love nature and all of its facets, this is the place to visit. When baseball season is over, the skies are nice and dark as well. I just need to be a little patient.

Isabelle

[rabbithutch]

No doubt, you live in a beautiful part of the world. Be patient. Baseball will not last when the fuzzy white stuff flies.

Does snow cover affect your viewing? In my experiences in the GWN, one of the most compelling things I've noticed is how well one can see even on a moonless night.

[JohnnyD333]

Don't worry Isabelle, dark clear skies will come to you. Hurricanes, clouds, it doesnt matter in the end when you finally have that chance to be at peace outside in perfect conditions. I have to start teaching at the end of the week, my house flooded this weekend (along with my main computer) but I look foward to the clear skies to image tomorrow. What can we do about the past and the things we cant control? Just think, your next night out will be that much better because of this. Stay positive, life is too short to worry and stress.

[stolenfeather]

You're right Johnny, I shouldn't stress about the "little things". In the end, where just a planet orbiting around a star amongst many. What a single man does by his house means little. I'll keep my eyes to the (ahem) "circling skies" from now on.

Isabelle

[JamesF]

You are far from alone in your frustration. I've had one decent night (ie been able to spent four or five hours outside) since May 12th. There have been a couple of nights when I've managed to get out for a couple of hours, but other than that most of the last three months seems to have been a case of snatching the odd half-hour of observing when the clouds leave a gap, or spending time observing the moon or sun.

James

[Shibby]

At least it was his back that you saw! Just be confident in the feeling of superiority that you use your back garden for stargazing rather than urinating. Don't let neighbours get to you - easier said than done, believe me I know!

[stolenfeather]

I'm sorry that James that you are also not having any luck with your stargazing lately. I guess we both have to be patient.

You're absolutely right Lewis. My "not so close encounter" could have been much worse! I have to also agree with your perspective on my superiority over my neighbour for using my garden for far greater endeavours!

Isabelle

[ZEbbEDY]

the snake nebula

talk about faint fuzzy

[/crude]

[Nexus 6]

Not something you want to see when looking at the night sky! You could have embarressed him by saying you couldn't see anything anyway even with your scope Isabelle

[stolenfeather]

Oh my Alan,.. That would have been the greatest comeback! In the end, I was very fortunate in that his back was facing me. If it would have been the opposite, I would have notified the authorities because that would have been a blatant ruse to intimidate me sexually.

Funny Zebb but I would have much preferred seeing this one: Click ----> HERE

Isabelle