SKYWATCH: February 2022
By Phillip Virden: Lake City, Colorado Amateur Astronomer, Cooperative Observer for 30+ years for National Weather Service, Dark Sky Coordinator for Lake Fork Valley Conservancy
Blue Heron pays a New Year’s visit to Lake City
“I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting for their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world and am free.”
January 2022 Lake City Weather
Average high temperature was 33.5 vs 33.9 historical average
Highest recorded temperature was 50 on January 6th & 7th
Average low temperature was .5 vs -1.4 historical average
Lowest recorded temperature was -12 on January 2nd & 3rd
Average mean temperature was 17.0 vs 16.2 historical average
Total precipitation was .39” vs .83” historical average
James Webb has reached its orbit - the L2 Lagrange point. More updates coming soon!
Coyote Stares at photographer (me) on a chilly January day in Lake City.
There are many stories about coyote and the night sky. One is by the Wasco Indians (the tribe was located in Oregon near the Columbia Rive). According to one Wasco legend, coyote loved nature and was very skilled with a bow and arrow. One night, coyote climbed all the way to the Moon! He rested after that long journey. When he awoke, he realized he could move stars when he shot his arrows at them! He was so excited, he began rearranging the stars into shapes of his animal friends. First he created two bears (Ursa Major and Ursa Minor). Then a horse (Pegasus), a goat (Capricorn), an eagle (Aquila), a lion (Leo), a fish (Pisces), and a hare (Lepus).
When coyote returned to Earth, his animals had a party for him as they were so honored to have their images placed in the night sky for all to enjoy.
Today, if you listen closely in the still of the night as the Moon is rising, you may even hear the magical howl of the coyote. He is calling you to go to your window and gaze at his friend’s images in the night sky and to dream big dreams.
The Winter Night Sky
Orion dominates the southern night sky in the winter. In most cultures, the constellation Orion resembles a mighty hunter with his bow. Orion is great to look at with the naked eye. With binoculars, you can enjoy seeing the famous fuzzy patch known as the Orion nebula (located just below Orion’s belt). With a telescope there a many other nebula to enjoy. Pictured above from left to right: Flame nebula, image of the constellation Orion, and the Orion nebula.
Nebula are known as dynamic “star nurseries” where stars are being born from the mixture of dust, gas, hydrodgen, and helium and “other ingredients”…the same incredients that make up human beings!
Lunar Halo
My daughter Lily called my attention to this ring around the January 17th full Moon. It is known as a Lunar Halo and is caused by the Moon’s light shining off ice crystals and water vapor.
February & Early March Astronomy Highlights
February 2 – Bright Jupiter will be near the crescent Moon at dusk.
February 8 – First quarter Moon.
February 12 – At dawn, Venus will be at its brightest in the eastern sky.
February 15 – Try spotting Mercury low in the east near Venus at dawn.
February 16 – Full Moon – Known as the Snow Moon. Let us hope that will be true!
February 23 – Last quarter Moon.
February 26 – Venus and Mars will be near the crescent Moon this morning!
March 2 – New Moon
March 8 – The crescent Moon will be between Aldebaran (a star known as the eye of Taurus the bull) and the famous Pleiades (a beautiful open star cluster with thousands of stars and seven very bright stars that have inspired many star stories)
International Dark Sky Week is Coming April 22-30!
Lake City Skies hopes to hold an event during this week. Stay tuned for an update next month. In the meantime, turn of your outdoor lights or put shields or timers on them so, like coyote and his friends, you can enjoy the wonders of the night sky! Learn more about this initiative here.
