Five In A Row

We were hoping to view the alignment five planets that is currently happening.  Yesterday 6:00 AM  found us awake looking at dark clear skies.  Jupiter was just rising above our nearby high ridge.  Thin low clouds frequently blocked our view as the bright planet remained for a time below the tree line.  Celestial observations in our area are severely impacted by nearly constant cloud cover or river fog.  We were unwilling to let this opportunity to see the five  planets arranged in a line pass us by.  A short road trip to a hill top with an unobstructed view to the east was necessary.

It was a cold morning with the temperature in the single digits. We quickly bundled up. A light coating of snow crunched under our feet the way it does only in this kind of cold.  By the time we were road ready, the sky was filling with morning light.  When we finally reached the hilltop, only one planet remained visible in the ever brightening light of dawn.  A second factor impacted our chances of finding other planets.  We thought that common sense indicated that the other planets would be found along a nearly vertical line extending from Jupiter to the horizon.  The planets travel an area of sky near the path of the sun and everyone knows that the sun is overhead by noon.  However, at this time of year the sun follows a path well south of overhead.  As it turns out, some of the remaining four planets might have been found had we looked along a nearly horizontal line trailing behind Jupiter.

We were awake early this morning ready to try again using our newly found correct information.  All that we could see today were cloud bottoms.  Despite decades of repeated attempts, we have never seen Mercury.  It never ventures far from the sun and our high horizons limit dark sky near sunrise or sunset.  On the plus side, our location has once again spared us from the fierce winter storm that is now moving up the coast.  We should see only broken clouds and sunshine today as the storm passes far to our east.  Perhaps we will have a chance to try again tomorrow!

January Thaw

Winter in upstate New York displays several different faces.  A warm spell is so common during this month that it has a recognized name.  Most winters snow is so deep by mid January that some melting is much appreciated.  This year there is little snow on the ground now.  My neighbors likely thought me slightly batty when I plowed for only the second time this morning.  Never one to allow public opinion to shape my actions, I thoroughly enjoyed time working outside in mild air.

We are due for a propane delivery soon.  It seems only prudent for me to keep my uphill driveway clear of snow.  In the past my pickup truck has slid backwards down this section of driveway.  That long slide with almost no control remains a memorable experience that should not be repeated.  The gas truck must be guaranteed safe passage.  The picture was taken earlier today.  With bits of gravel exposed to the warming sunlight, there is more open roadway exposed by now.  The softened tire tracks will provide needed traction.

It might appear that I have gone overboard considering the width of the plowed path.  My little lawn tractor equipped with not much of a plow cannot push mountains of snow to the side.  A wide clear area will give me a place to put future snowfall since it will of necessity be deposited inside of the present plow ridges.

For now, we are in good shape.  The lane is clear for the gas truck.  With this next delivery we will have a sufficient supply to carry us through the worst of a typical winter.  It makes us feel secure to know heat will be ours for most of the remaining winter even without another delivery.  Seeing just how low the price of propane has fallen will likely bring a warm smile.