It's been a long time,... (I missed this forum)

[stolenfeather]

January 16th, 2012

It has been nearly 2 months since I last gazed at the stars. As each night filled with clouds passed, a small part of me ached and succumbed to darkness. December sneaked by without revealing any sky splendours yet I rejoiced about being reunited with loved ones. My return to the north was one filled with many teaching responsibilities making stargazing difficult. That January night, the skies seemed to come out and embrace me as I brought out my telescope to acclimate to the cold.

Since this felt more like a reunion than mere exploration, I decided to gaze at sights I knew well but stirred strong emotions from the past. The first was Venus, the first planet I found and observed with my telescope a long time ago. Looking at this planet like it's first observers from earth did in antiquity, I marveled at its beauty. I resisted thinking about its hostile surface and tried to imagine exactly how early astronomers saw this planet. Aphrodite, Goddess of love and beauty,.. With time we now recognize it as something totally different. Mind you, does that translate to our view of love and beauty today? Can danger be beautiful? Is love, a state of mind and emotion, devoid of danger?

Tell me now,.. Does this look dangerous to you?

(I know,.. there are far better pictures out there but,... I just had to try right?)

With an atmospheric pressure 92 times more prevalent than earth's, an atmosphere consisting mainly of carbon dioxide and clouds of sulfuric acid,.. you should. Then again, we say that a sunset is beautiful as well but I wouldn't go strolling around on it's surface either. Love? We all know the perils yet we still venture forward. So Venus,... shine bright, your title is well deserving!

Jupiter was also shining brightly but was quite camera shy so I tried my luck with something that pushed the limits of my small point-and-shoot technology. It was with this picture of the Orion Nebula that I packed up my equipment and returned to the warmth of my living room. It just doesn't get any better than this:

Isabelle

[stolenfeather]

I'd also like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy New Year! I have been away from my scope and the Internet during the holidays. I hope to catch a couple of cloudless nights soon! This was my first time in weeks!!!!!

Isabelle

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Best wishes for 2012 to you too, and welcome back. It has been an awful few weeks of weather which are best typified as "bleh"

Good to hear you have been able to see stuff again.

[RogerTheDodger]

Happy New year to you too Isabelle

[stolenfeather]

Thanks Roger and Michael! It's back to being bleh around here as a blizzard starts to gain strength. The stars will be back,.. they will be back,..

Isabelle

[Astro Imp]

Hi Isabelle,

All the best to you too.

Nice to hear from you again.

As Michael says above it's been pretty awful here in northen Europe the last few weeks but looking better now.

[stolenfeather]

I'm happy that it's looking better for you out there Alan. It looks fine here for now but you know how it goes right,.. once the sun starts to go over the horizon, the clouds appear!

Isabelle

[Nexus 6]

wow 2 months...that's a long to go without it...observing that is! the chaps are right it has been an awful time over here this past few months

[Double Kick Drum]

Welcome back to observing after such a long break.

Lovely narrative report too. It makes me think I should be more imaginitive with mine. There are so many words in the English language and I keep going back to "nebulous" and "fuzzy". Must try harder!

Happy New Year to you too!

[stolenfeather]

Nothing wrong with nebulous and fuzzy! It's just,.. what it is! Thank you for your encouragement Double Kick Drum!

Yes, it's definitely been a long while Alan and I could go again tonight but the weather station reports -39 with the windchill tonight. I want to chance it but,...

brrrrr!

Isabelle

[Nexus 6]

-39! are you mad woman!

makes me feel like a real whimp with our -3 over here which seems positively balmy

Hope you have some warmer weather soon

[stolenfeather]

I'm not mad and remained indoors tonight but I must say,... I made it out once in -45. I wanted to see my first comet (Lulin) and did! I also experienced frostbite though. I guess I am crazy because if you'd ask me if I would do it again,.. I would!

Isabelle

[jimmyjamjoejoe]

Glad you're back, I always enjoy reading your posts.

I am in the middle of a stargazing drought. Didn't get out over the festive season, and now i'm having to pull 10-12 hour days every day at work for the last month or so, finishing at 10pm etc. It really feels like i'm missing a friend, very strange.

Can't wait for my reunion.

[stolenfeather]

Thanks Jimmy, that is awfully nice to say. I understand what you mean by "missing a friend". There's something quite strong about being out there isn't it? 10-12 hour days? Will you be doing this for long? I hope there is a real long vacation coming to you soon!

Isabelle

[nightfisher]

Really nice to see you back on here, all the best for this coming year, i hope you sorted your family issue`s out

[stolenfeather]

The family "issue" is actually going very well! As for more stargazing,.. it seems we are in the middle of a "white out" right now with local blowing snow and high winds. It's too bad because it was announced yesterday on the news that we are to be witness of some great sun activity in the next few days. My region, being in the north, would be perfect for some amazing auroras but,..

clouds always ruin everything don't they?

Isabelle

[jimmyjamjoejoe]

clouds always ruin everything don't they?

Tell me about it, I received my 200p today, and the forecast shows cloud till friday

[stolenfeather]

I have the same scenario but it feels worse when there's a new scope in the mix! The nights simply become unbearable! Sorry to hear your predicament Jimmy!

Isabelle