Night Sky

2007-10-05 22:59:22.000 – Zach Allen,  Meteorologist

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Before starting my stint here at the observatory, I was not much of a night person. After a few months of staying up late to provide the forecast it has been quite an adjustment being a night observer. Over the past four months I have recognized patterns in the night sky, for example when the moon will rise. Each night the moon rises later or sooner as the phase changes. The clear nights have been quite rewarding. Endless amounts of stars appear as my eyes adjust to the darkness. The belt of the Milky Way looks similar to a thin cirrus cloud. Full moon nights light up the summit with all the buildings and towers clearly visible. Each night meteors ignite as they enter the atmosphere which happens a couple times a night. However the aurora borealis have not been active in the mid latitudes over the past couple of years.

On a side note, some of our beloved members have been emailing us here at the summit about how Nin is doing. I am pleased to say that our feline friend is doing quite well and is one happy cat. His health is good and he is getting an annual check up next week. He has been spending time wandering around the state park rotunda during the day and sleeping. Keep an eye on the website for any future Nin news and notes.

Zach Allen,  Meteorologist