Starry Night: the stars as guide in the outdoors

Top 2. Sep 3, 2001 7:36 PM

» Fort_Spunky - Night Sky

Hi Jill,

I'm not much of an outdoors woman. I like walking and I really enjoy nature and wildflowers and stuff, but I don't want to deal with bugs or spiders or snakes. And I'm afraid rock climbing would be way out of my endurance range.

However, I really enjoyed your article about the night sky. I remember as a kid (when we lived out in the country without city lights) going outside and looking up at the millions of stars. I can still find the Big Dipper and sometimes the Little Dipper and the North Star--but that's about it. Your article is informative and inspiring. Makes me want to check out some of those other constellations.

Thanks for an interesting article. You are an excellent writer.

Linda

-- posted by Fort_Spunky

Top 3. Sep 3, 2001 9:30 PM

» Thorsen - Great article

I really enjoyed reading your astronomy article. It was well written and easy to read. The astronomy info was interesting without being too technical. You will go far.

Thor

-- posted by Thorsen

Top 4. Sep 3, 2001 10:16 PM

» desertblue - Re: The sky is

In response to message posted by jerrib:

Thanks Jerri! I like your reference to the sky being a map. Very nice evocative image that we don't consider very often. And it's even more exciting to think that the stars present a three-dimensional map, and we are a small part of it all, out along the far reaches of the Sagittarian Arm of the Milky Way...

I'll have to check out the New Hampshire site!

-- posted by desertblue

Top 5. Sep 3, 2001 10:23 PM

» desertblue - Re: Night Sky

In response to message posted by Fort_Spunky:

Thank you for the lovely compliment, Linda. And you make a good point about the lights from our modern times obscuring all but the brightest stars. When I lived in San Diego I pined for my favorite constellations.

Flagstaff in Northern Arizona is a bit closer to the stars at 7,000 feet, but did you know the Planet Pluto was discovered here? Lowell Observatory is just up the hill, and the prestige of this institution has led to some stringently-followed "Light Ordinances." A good plan for other cities to emulate.

Thanks for reading even if rock climbing isn't your thing. I do try to cover topics like hiking and cycling, and travelling the southwest in general, as well. I think I will write an article soon about the creepy crawlies, just for you! After all, they are a fascinating topic and far less a threat to humans than most would believe.
Jill

-- posted by desertblue

Top 6. Sep 3, 2001 10:35 PM

» desertblue - Re: Great article

In response to message posted by Thorsen:

Hey Thorsen, welcome to Suite 101! There's some amazing topics and writers and people here; hope you stick around. What's your favorite constellation?
Jill

-- posted by desertblue

Top 7. Oct 24, 2001 10:23 AM

» desertblue - a comment emailed in...

This was sent to me for inclusion to the discussion! smile

Read your 'Starry Night'.
I'm actually thrilled to find that you are a good writer.
(doncha just hate it when you can't find anything nice to say about someone's
work?)

Words that I would use to describe it would be:
"cogent, accessible, informational while remaining friendly and suffused with
an air of enthusiasm"
(and a smokey wood finish!)

Photon

-- posted by desertblue

Top 8. Nov 6, 2001 8:29 AM

» desertblue - Moon and Saturn

Just a quick note for those who watch the sky: the moon is passing very close to Saturn at this time (in fact, a few days ago the Moon occluded it - passed over it - in Europe).

Jill

-- posted by desertblue

Top 9. Sep 6, 2002 1:40 PM

» desertblue - Re: Re: The sky is

In response to message posted by desertblue:

Hey folks, I finally added some star and moon pix to this piece, plus a bit more detail on the moon herself. Check it out!

-- posted by desertblue