Thursday 18 March 2021

Ursa Major

 This is a story for Jitka and Rosie, Armin and Paul, who visited us in August 2011.



Findlingen_found_in_Canada65 shows the women in alphabetical order, but not the men - so you can now identify the cast.

 

 They were staying in Hammock Harbour

 


 and had to walk past this sign

 



 

 

to get to our home.

 

Now astronomers have been encountering bears for ever. And they looked to me for advice.

"Bears are camera shy, - so always have your camera ready "to shoot" them."


They were not reassured by me and asked for the drawbridge to be raised, or at least turned so the bear could not cross the Narrows,




We do our best to please our tourists, as you can see. And of courses, bears are very respectful:






Still, I had to walk them home at night because then they were afraid of the dark - but not any more.

So I don't know what they would think of the bear I saw yesterday, not 200m from where I live.




It has been a very long time since I have been this close to a bear - and lived to tell about it.

I guess it pays to be a member of the Orillia Naturalists - in good standing!


Until the next time,


Stay safe, and keep your mask up,


WOB

Friday 5 March 2021

Fire and Ice

 It was bitterly cold recently. Last night -10°C with a strong penetrating wind. Vicki was holding my hand while I tried to see the zodiacal light.

Bass Lake:




Left Line 15 for a darker road at the end of Line 13, Not sure if this is what I wanted or light pollution.



                                    ^                           ^                                              ^

                                    Aldebaran           Mars - Pleiades                        Zodiacal  --->?

There is light pollution in the South-west:


Can you see the 3 red objects? Betelgeuse, Aldebaran, both stars, and Mars at the top edge. Almost in a straight line.

Fire and Ice

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great

And would suffice.

 

So I went out again today to see more ice and wind chill caught in the act:

 




 It is an ill wind/windchill that blows no good - so eh, here is enjoyment:




It was cloudy tonight, some snow drifting onto the balcony - so no expeditions tonight.


Sleep well,


WOB