I hadn't planned to get up, because I haven't kept up with current astronomical events. This morning twilight of December 7 I had to let the dog out. By nature, I always look up whenever I do get out. Mostly I watch constellations fading in the morning light, but this time, hanging low above the eastern horizon hung a brilliant crescent moon. Just off it's edge the morning star rose to kiss it. What a grand sight. If you missed it, here's an iphoto.

A quick note to all of you who love science and space. JPL is having its open house this Saturday, October 10. Join the scientist for a day of fun and learning. It's definitely worth the trip. Here's the link:

www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/open-house.php 

Blood Moon

Blood Moon

Yes the world’s coming to an end, but not today. There will always be doomsayers, but we ought to listen to the words of the Lord about the end times, “You know neither the day nor the hour.” It might be wiser to be ready for His coming at any moment of our lives. But on with the blood moon. . .

The general public may consider a blood moon a sign of cataclysmic proportions. Astronomers view it as colorful periodic eclipse of the moon. The difference between the upcoming event and previous lunar eclipses is that this time, the moon will not only be at its closest point in relation to earth, but it will also be at its brightest. http://news.yahoo.com/super-blood-moon-stargazers-rare-show-024044296.html;_ylt=AwrTccPpdANWdmcApcknnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTEzMjAwb2FxBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDRkZSQTAxXzEEc2VjA3Nj

Those who would bond with astronomers from the Ventura County Astronomical Society are welcome at the Moorpark College observatory this Sunday (the 27th) evening. Visit http://vcas.org/   for more information; and happy viewing!

Missing Months

Missing Months of Writing

I can’t blame lethargy for lack of putting pen to paper. I can’t even blame my husband. I can only blame a general spiritual malaise. You see, if lethargy caused it, I wouldn’t be putting out so much energy on yard work, house makeovers, and camping plans. If my husband were at fault, he’d only be an easy excuse. Yes, he’s slowing down physically and needs my help, from time to time, for simple things like getting his shoes on. But really, he demands very little of my energy.

Perhaps malaise isn’t the right term for not writing, either. I grope for an explanation of my inner mood. I want to use the description of the saints, “dark night”, but the mood, the vision, isn’t dark. I’m deeply aware that God is present and that I stand in the light; I find myself blinded, and without a guide to lead me, (my spiritual director is now home with God), I stumble in its brilliance..

I am humbled by the present state of affairs. It seems there is nothing to say that hasn’t already been said before by far better writers than me. Is that an excuse? Can I retire from writing? Or is it my destiny to carry on?   If for no other reason than to force myself to focus, I will to carry on. No doubt had I been born in the current era, I would have been diagnosed with ADD. That isn’t all bad. I’ve read such people have much to contribute to the world. So I will again ADD bits and pieces of my thoughts to the Jack of All blog. Perhaps you’ll have fun reading it.

Astronomical Firsts

Serious backyard astronomers are often discoverers. They can spend night after night hunting for comets, viewing favorite deep sky objects, or tracking an asteroid. This not so serious astronomer simply delights in personal firsts.

It all started half a hundred years ago when a backyard astronomer waved me over to his yard to look through his telescope. It was my first glimpse of the ring, a little puff of smoke in his eight inch telescope. It reminded me of the smoke rings Mamma used to puff after sucking on her cigarette. That was 1958, Connecticut.

It was also in 1958 that watching a point of light sweep across the sky would secure my love of astronomy. I don’t remember details other than the excitement of the announcer who said it would be America’s first stab at space, and that it would move from southwest to northeast taking about fifteen minutes to cross the murky NY sky. Frantically I banged on every neighbor’s door on all five floors of our apartment building to share the news. A handful of folks followed me up to the roof.

Fast Forward to 1993. Having joined the local Moorpark College astronomy class I embarked on many more firsts. My first visit to RTMC (the Riverside Telescope Maker’s Conference) http://rtmcastronomyexpo.org/  taught me observational skills. Traditionally held on the Memorial Day weekend, the expo offers the dark Big Bear skies and hundreds of telescopes owned by astronomers that willingly share their knowledge and equipment. My first RTMC event was abuzz with news of a supernova in M-81 galaxy. The fun of traveling from telescope to telescope for multiple views of the supernova was memorable. So were views of other deep sky objects like the Ring, Andromeda galaxy, and M-22 cluster in Sagittarius. I would stare at supernova 1993J for weeks to watch it slowly fade away http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_81

A year later I would witness another grand event. Schumacher Levy, a comet discovered by the late astronomer in July, 1994 was blasting its way toward Jupiter. The tidal stress of the planet broke the comet into smaller pieces as it was captured by Jupiter’s gravitation. News was that the comet would hit the planet on its backside, away from earth based views. That didn’t deter hard core astronomers on the Moorpark College field. We waited, and waited, and waited for the planet to rotate. Eyes glued to telescopes, one observer after another screeched, “I see it!”  No photograph, not even Hubble views can match what the human eye sees. It was as if a spear had pierced deep into the heart of the planet.

By 1996 I was in for another treat. Watching things move through the sky got me interested in comets, and 1996 brought out a naked eye beast. Its name: Hyakutake. Its interest, a super close approach to earth. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_Hyakutake  Dubbed the Great Comet of 1996, it did not fail to draw attention for more than a month. Comets move slowly. Unlike meteors, which fall rapidly through earth’s atmosphere, comets follow longer orbits from the inner or outer solar system, Hyakutake is a long period comet, meaning it won’t be back for a long time. But like so many long period comets it can say “I’ll be back.” (In about 70,000 years)

Hale-Bopp, an equally spectacular comet that cruised through in 1997 kept me busy with binoculars. I was fortunate to catch my first glimpse of it almost immediately after discovery (thanks to another RTMC event). Since comets are often bright enough to see without telescopes, a binocular can track them for quite a while. Hale Bopp was brightly visible as it passed near the tail of Scorpio early on, and it kept showing off for many more months thereafter. It pays to have friends among the professionals, because they can often point out things I fail to see. Such was the case of another comet. Unfortunately, the name escapes me. It was Mr. Morris from JPL that pointed out the comet the year we were up near Boy Scout Camp Road below Mt. Pinos. The comet was so large and diffuse I couldn’t see it because it filled my entire 6 degree binocular field.

Comets aren’t the only heavenly bodies that strike my fancy. For me it’s the joy of the hunt, of finding some elusive critter the astronomical community broadcasts. For years I’d avoided searching for asteroids. They don’t have tails, hence are harder to spot. I finally decided on another first when I saw a mini star map in Astronomy Magazine that showed the trajectory of asteroid Ceres. It took a number of nights for me to be sure I truly had Ceres in my sights. The only way I could tell was that it moved. The background star field changed ever so slowly night to night. Bingo, Ceres.

If you too are a person willing to stare up at the cold dark sky for many nights, join me and other amateurs for the hunt.

Family

And so our grandchild, Melissa, came to visit, to roast marshmallows with the kids, and to share news.

For old timers like us, the break from lazing around the house and watching TV keeps us young. Ditto for the close to home beach trip with Meli's boys and with Brigitte.

And then it was goodbye to Shay, who now has a happy home and a happy rider.

Opa has ups and downs. But he always wears a smile.

And as always, he loves the beach

So where's Mom in all of this?

Here she is

Gottlob Frey, according to the record, was born September 8, 1916.  Family photos of him show a handsome accomplished teacher, a soldier, and a brother to Fanny, Max, and Herbert Frey.  The Frey's own Hotel Hetschelhof in Enzkloesterle, Black Forest. Just south of Pforzheim, this quiet German valley touts curative hot springs which once brought ailing tourists in droves. West of the noisier more traveled autobahn lanes, Enzkloesterle remains a casual retreat that attracts nature lovers.
The Hetschelhof itself has a long history dating from the late 1700's. The family ownership of the land traces back to the mid 1500's. The family was and still is politically active. Their service to the king won them a family crest.  

Apparently a member of the family who had immigrated to America produced an accurate record of the Frey family history. My first meeting with family was true to Mutti’s often devious ways. I had visited Europe on a 21 day excursion upon my first vacation from work. Mutti was already in Germany and offered to show me around. I’d asked to visit my father’s family. She wanted nothing to do with them. I insisted that Father’s family was my family even though it wasn’t hers. She brought me to Hetschelhof. We sat enjoying lunch at the extant hotel dining room. Uncle Herbert, unaware of our origin joined us American newcomers. It didn’t take him long to realize we were more than just passing tourists.  Uncle Herbert kept staring at us long and hard.  His furrowed brow eased into recognition, “I know who you are . . .” he said.  Genes don’t lie, even without DNA.  

http://www.muellerwiese.de/en/black-forest-hiking.htm