Check out this interactive map of the observable universe from the Milky Way to the edge of what can be seen. The map travels back more than 13 billion years. It spans the entire known cosmos with pinpoint accuracy and depicts the actual position and real colors of 200,000 galaxies.
The map was created by astronomers at Johns Hopkins University using data collected over two decades by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.
Here’s just a small section.
If you … Read more
There was a lunar (full moon) eclipse this morning, fully visible in most of the United States. The sky was silly bright most of the night. The kind of night where you could easily walk outside without a flashlight. The eclipse was officially complete in the eastern US at 5:16 AM this morning.
In case you missed it…
If you’re noticing that it looks red instead of black, you’d be correct. This is what’s known as a blood moon. This … Read more
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood! We’ve got two new birds that seem to have taken up permanent residence.
The bald eagle flew right over my head to make itself known. I’ve seen it a few times now. They’re not that common around here, so it’s exciting to get to see.
The turkey… The poor turkey has actually been booted out of its flock. Since it’s mating season and the dominant male doesn’t want any competition, he’s been ostracized. … Read more
I never get tired of the rhythm of the seasons.
As a gardener/forager, just as one season ends, there’s always the next rolling in right behind.
While my garden might be seeing its last days, it’s time to make the concord grape jam. And nearly time to plant my garlic. And then to pick the pumpkins and squash. And so on and so on. Even in winter, there’s maple sugaring.
There is always something to look forward to.
And, yes, … Read more
Because I like to go on walkabouts from time to time, which often means an unplanned, unresearched trip that could land me anywhere in the world, one of the top, always-pack items I take is some kind of water filtration gadget. My go-to for a long time has been the LifeStraw 22 oz, BPA-free filtration bottle. I love it. Easy to use and works great.
But I’m always keeping my eye out for what’s coming down the pike with water … Read more
Cheeky little fellow. Without dogs or cats to scare him away, he’s happy to hang out on our front porch and take in the sights.
Our front and back yard are now overflowing with chipmunks who’ve moved in. Which presents a conundrum. Do I take a live-and-let-live policy (as has been my policy with all outdoor animals) and leave them alone? Or do I find a way to actively move them along? I don’t need more burrowing or house-entering critters.… Read more
There have been a lot of changes in the past year. It’s been interesting to see how Wink’s and Finn’s absence have been telegraphed through our little wild kingdom.
One of the most noticeable differences is in the number of birds that now feel comfortable in much closer proximity to our house.
When Wink and Finn were here, pretty much zero came inside our fence. Just this afternoon, there were several that I could single out by sight and sound, … Read more
Maybe you’ve even resorted to hand pollination, as I’ve had to on a few occasions.
So I’ve become all about the bees, as witnessed by this wasps nest.
You can learn more about why I left them alone in this post which talks about the benefits of wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets.
And letting our lawn go … Read more
