Before I spend any time talking about the big, dark constellation of Pisces, I want to mention a couple items of interest involving the planets. If you missed the great conjunction of Venus and Jupiter this week (I did - rainy and cloudy), don't worry, as there's always something new going on. In the mornings,…Read more Pisces and More Planetary Dancing (Astronomy: Week of 11/19/17)
Experiments!
This may be a little to exact for this week's challenge, but hey, it's Science Fair season! One of my sons has been experimenting with the chemistry that creates cool light - along the bioluminescence capabilities of fireflies (lightning bugs), jellyfish, and our own man-made glow sticks, generally referred to as chemiluminescence. After several iterations…Read more Experiments!
Downeast Maine, Part 2 – Whale Watching and Lighthouses
Part 2 of our Maine adventure, featuring a very foggy day in the Atlantic looking for whales, a short hike to Bar Island along the low-tide accessible sand bar that gives Bar Harbor its name, and various lighthouses. A note on the whale watching trip, through Bar Harbor Whale Watch: The touring company uses high speed,…Read more Downeast Maine, Part 2 – Whale Watching and Lighthouses
Downeast Maine, Part 1 – Acadia
Back in August, I posted a quick synopsis of a trip we took to the Bar Harbor, ME area. I'm finally getting around to reviewing footage from that trip and sharing some of the highlights via YouTube. Here's the first installment - a quick hit at some Acadia highlights: Thunder Hole, Otter Creek, Cadillac Mountain, …Read more Downeast Maine, Part 1 – Acadia
Planets and Meteors (Astronomy: Week of 11/12/17)
Last week I published a couple teasers on what were then "upcoming" events, so this week's highlights should be on your radar. I've been patiently waiting through a week of almost nonstop rain, so I'm looking forward to all this as well. First - the Leonid meteor shower is upon us. Unlike the last two…Read more Planets and Meteors (Astronomy: Week of 11/12/17)
Survived Another Season
On the constantly changing Atlantic shore, nothing is constant. The dunes erode, the land shifts - but nothing is quite so temporary as the structures we build here. This pier, held up by a haphazard forest of pilings, is still fighting an angry sea... for now. Photo Credit - Lynn Abbott This photo is published…Read more Survived Another Season
Orienteering – Step Up Your Navigation Game
What does this little snippet of a map mean to you? If you're familiar with topographical maps, it may be relatively easy to see a creek valley (blue line) with a wide bottom and intermittent flooding (blue shading, also known as a marsh). Brown lines show elevation contours that indicate changes in elevation, and close…Read more Orienteering – Step Up Your Navigation Game
National Parks Fee-Free This Weekend
The comment period is still open and jury's still out on what the US National Park fee structure will look like next year - but this weekend, Nov 11-12, is the last FREE weekend of the calendar year 2017, in honor of Veterans Day. So if you haven’t made plans for the weekend, and this…Read more National Parks Fee-Free This Weekend
Cedarville State Forest, MD
Washington, DC traffic is no fun. Some love the area, but for many, the 50 miles surrounding our nation's capitol are viewed as a mass of commuters that grows in density and frustration, the I-495, the Beltway, marking an orbit of wasted time and despair. Given that many of us are forced to deal with…Read more Cedarville State Forest, MD
An Astronomical Potpourri (Astronomy: Week of 11/5/17)
Hi, everybody. I hope you've been having a good week and that you survived the demonic onslaught of trick-or-treaters Tuesday night! I was scared out of my wits - but then again I was caught several times in the front yard looking at the Andromeda Galaxy when a couple costumed kids would sneak up on…Read more An Astronomical Potpourri (Astronomy: Week of 11/5/17)
Peek-A-Boo
I've shared this photo before, but it was a good match for this week's photo challenge. We were paddling along at Mallows Bay, when we spotted this raccoon foraging along the shore. She knew we could see her, and knew we were watching. It wasn't until she was able to hide behind a low shrub…Read more Peek-A-Boo
October Photo Summary
I publish photos almost every day - but they go primarily to Instagram, Facebook, Twitter... and not typically here as "posts". So in case you missed them, here's the recap of all the featured photos from October.
How Should the United States Fund its National Parks?
UPDATE: The public comment period mentioned below has been extended to Dec 22, 2017. If you thought you missed the opportunity to weigh in, you haven't. Make your voice heard. The United States National Park Service has a cash-flow problem, and there don't seem to be any easy ways to solve it. Let me start…Read more How Should the United States Fund its National Parks?
Sugarloaf Mountain, MD
Rocks, and the smell of hickory. Those were the two primary impressions this mountain made on me one recent, overcast workday afternoon. Before I get too far - I'm NOT talking about any famous ski resorts, I'm referring to a mountain in Maryland that sits by itself well east of the Catcotins and the main…Read more Sugarloaf Mountain, MD
Halloween (Astronomy: Week of 10/29/17)
It seems we are entering meteor season! The Orionids are winding down, but we have another shower peaking next weekend - the Southern Taurids are another wide, diffuse shower that lasts for weeks, peaking at 10-20 meteors per hour on November 4. Unfortunately, this peak coincides with a full Moon which will wash out the…Read more Halloween (Astronomy: Week of 10/29/17)
Flying Squirrel Outdoors 