Taking time a week at a gulp makes the months so much shorter — July is nearly over and it seems it just began. When you are wearied from the daytime heat, the cooler evening or early morning is a pleasant break and a perfect time to enjoy whatever is happening in the skies. From the riotous colors of sunlight scattered by the clouds and dust at sunrise and sunset, the presence or absence of clouds in the shades of blues, violets, lavenders, and gold will always have an effect on us. Make sure to enjoy them.
You may also be able to enjoy the view of a swiftly-moving point of light that is sunlight reflecting off the football field-sized International Space Station, which is home to a mixed-nations crew of seven astronauts who have been living and working 250 miles above Earth since November 2000. The amazing success of the ISS has provided food for thought as well as work and conveniences we Earth-bound folks now take for granted. Although international relations are definitely strained between the USA and Russia, the astronauts carry on their cooperation despite government “leadership.”
https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/ is a link to get alerts on your phone or via email to know exactly when to see the ISS passing over our Valley homes.
The end of the month increases the chance of seeing a meteor streak across our skies seeming to emerge from the constellations Capricornus and Aquarius. The meteors will not be very bright, but catching a “falling star” is always a special experience. I carry two meteorites in my purse most of the time and it is always fun to ask fellow diners if their children would like to hold a real meteorite and see the amazement on their faces. If you see me somewhere don’t hesitate to ask to see them. I enjoy sharing them.
If you are out where there is wide-open sky to the south and little light pollution, you may be able to see the arc of the Milky Way galaxy arm that shrouds the constellations Sagittarius, Scorpius, and Ophiuchus. Sagittarius is the zodiac sign for November, but in the present era the sun is shining in front of this constellation from the end of December through most of January due to the shifting of our planet through the galaxy.
Of course, the constellations have nothing at all to do with your behavior; we make those choices. The teapot asterism that forms the bow of the archer is more readily seen than the less bright stars of the entire constellation. Each of the stars have a name. The star at the top of the triangle that marks the lid is Kaus Borealis, which means northern bow, and that at the base of the spout is called Kaus Australis, which means southern bow. The tip of the spout star is El Nasi which means point and the star at the top of the handle is Nunki, which refers to a god of the Babylonians.
Our sun’s place in the galaxy is about two-thirds of the way from the center of the spiral we call the Milky Way. At 100,000 light years diameter, our planet is about 30,000 light years from the nucleus. Looking at the teapot we are looking directly toward the center of our galaxy.
Ancient myths called the blur of stars a heavenly river, a bridge linking heaven and earth, and a river of flowing milk. What would YOU call it?
Until next week, KLU.
