I made plans to view Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) many months ago, soon after it was discovered and the ephemeris was published, I made lists of the nights that it would be best viewed from my location. I even tried one morning observation. But I have seen nothing ... until last evening. I suppose it had even greater significance yesterday since it would have been my mother's 99th birthday.
I used Stellarium to plot the comet and watched as it reached perihelion on October 12 and head towards Earth as it began it's 80,000 year orbit through deep space.
Even last evening did not look good. We had a cold front pass through earlier and showers spoiled most of the day. But towards evening I could see clearing moving from the north to south and figured there would be a chance.
At 7 pm I began checking. Nothing. But later, perhaps 7:45 pm, I caught the first glimpse of the comet with my cell phone. I never saw it with my bare eyes and that's probably partly due to my cataracts. But it is certainly not "the comet of the century" as earlier advertised. It is very dim here with Dayton's light pollution, maybe magnitude +3 or so. Comet Hale-Bopp was much more impressive - and colorful, too.
But a comet is a comet and is not to be missed.
Many of the pictures I've seen are quite impressive but I suppose they are mostly "stacked" images made with great cameras and other astronomical gear. I had only a Pixel cell phone and an old Canon digital camera. Even so, I was able to see and enjoy the comet with them.
I took close to 50 photos but these are the best. Many are cropped from larger frames but all are unedited.
As the comet rises higher each night, I suppose I'll try another observation session. But the comet is getting more distant every night and will be even dimmer. So I suspect these shots will be the best I can do.
If it's in the sky, I'm watching it. Late yesterday (about 7:30 pm) I took Parker a walk back Millie's lane and spotted a very young moon (just 3 days old): only 7% of the disk was illuminated. In fact, in a normal shot, the moon is all but invisible.
It's there but all but lost in the glow of sunset. I'll zoom in. The moon is at the top and centered.
I doubt it can see seen in the full-frame photo but it was visible to my eyes ... barely.
So, how young a moon can be seen? Here's Google's answer:
Around the time it is new, it is at most a very thin sliver and very close to the sun. The record documented observation of a young moon is 15.5 hours, and that was by a very experienced observer. To someone less experienced, it typically takes a day or two before or after the moment of new moon to spot it.
In any case, I think this is the youngest moon I've ever seen.
The moon was new on October 2 at 2:49 PM EDT. The view I had last evening was at about the 77 hours point. I can't imagine seeing it at 15.5 hours. I suppose that takes a telescope and knowing where to point it.
Later - about 9:45 pm - I went out again to see if the northern lights were visible. I saw nothing.
I watched with some anticipation as the early models showed the remnants of Hurricane Helene (a Cat 4 storm) come into the lower Ohio Valley. I was looking for rain any way we could get it Our monthly rainfall three days ago was 0.60" and that against a September normal of 3.20". So we were desperate for rain.
We got it. And wind, too. Yesterday the peak gust at the Dayton Airport was 57 mph. Last evening 78,000 customers were without power.
Our back porch looked like this early in the day as the storm began:
And that was just a harbinger of things to come. Pretty soon the rain had picked up and the wind was howling. Our power failed before I even got up and remained off from about 5:30 am to 7:45 am. Throughout the day it would falter and return but never completely failed again.
Our most major damage was to the northmost catalpa. A branch near the road snapped off. Tom moved it out of the road when he came home. It looked too big for our chain saw and too heavy for us. What to do?
Another view of the catalpa.
Tom collected small branches on the picnic table for us to move to the burn barrel as the weather improved.
Today our neighbor, Jeff Erisman, stopped by with his grandson, Cooper, and cut the catalpa branch into easily movable pieces.
What beautiful neighbors we have. We can count on them for anything.
A bit about the rainfall: yesterday I recorded 0.37" at 7 am and this morning I read 2.13". It's very rare to go over two inches in a 24 hour period. September now stands at 3.10", just a tenth of an inch shy of normal.
And it's raining ...
Update 09-30-24:
We got another 0.58" yesterday, still due to Helene, and that brings the final storm total to 4.45".
Today I had a dental appointment in Miamisburg and afterwards I visited the Kroger on Heincke and found most of the refrigerated and frozen cases empty. There was no meat, little dairy and no frozen goods. Only the milk cases had product. Here's a sample of what I saw:
For some time our water heater has been slowing leaking on the basement floor. It's never been much but it's enough to keep the floor beneath it wet. Then recently it's been making serious sounds when it heats. I was sure it was full of lime and calcium from our hard water.
So recently I had a new water softener installed [click here to read about it] in anticipation of replacing the water heater. There was no sense in having a new heater installed and then filling it with hard water and starting the downward spiral all over again.
In August I called my local plumber and he ordered a new "short" model as the one that was there almost reached the celling. He said it wouldn't be in until about September 20. But he called Tuesday and said it was in and could he come by on Wednesday [09/04] at 8 AM and install it?
The new one is a 50 gallon Richmond. Here it is in place but not installed.
[For my information, it's a Model 6EM50-D. Click here for more data]
This one is warranted for six years. So I'm not going to get another third of a century out of this one.
It was manufactured on 08/21/24 and installed 09/04/24 ... just 14 days later.
The old one (above) was installed in 1990 so we got a whopping 34 years out of it. Usually they last six to ten years.
He said it was so heavy he could barely move it. He walked it over behind the furnace and said we'd have to be find "a few strapping young guys" to get it up the steps.
Here is the new one fully installed.
Tom and I found that even placing it on a dolly we could barely budge it. We got it as far as the steps and let it set. I sent Bob a note asking if he had any ideas on who could help us? He said he'd come by and see what he could do.
The three of us where able to move it about as well as just Tom and I. It was like lifting a mountain.
The house was built in the late 19th century and the steps are fairly rustic. But they're heavy wood and strong. Both doors were open while we worked.
Bottom line: we took it apart as much as possible: metal jacket off and foam insulation removed. That might have reduced the weight by thirty pounds (probably less) . Our estimates as to the total weight was "around 500 pounds". Surely that wasn't off too much.
After we got it outside, we laid the pieces at the end of the brick sidewalk. We took the metal jacket and insulation sleeve out for trash pickup. Surprisingly they took both pieces this morning. I figured they'd take the foam and leave the metal.
Here's a close-up of the rusty bottom of the tank. It's no wonder it leaked after the amount of use it had.
And here's a top view: cold water inlet, hot water outlet, electrical supply, safety valve and grounding screw.
We'll have to get it to the dump but first it's going to have to be cut in half. Once it's opened I can scoop out the minerals and reduce the weight enough that we can get it into - and out of - the bed of a truck.
Later [09/13/24]: Brent Stiver, a neighbor, said he thought he could cut the tank in half, thereby reducing the weight in half and also allowing us to empty what was inside. He began cutting it with an electric angle grinder. He found the metal to be half inch steel and cutting the entire diameter took about 45 minutes.
First look inside. The tank was about half full of a calcium slurry. It looked a bit like wet cement.
The two halves were still incredibly heavy but I was able to stand each one up myself.
A look inside one half now that it was positioned vertically.
And the same view down inside the other half.
Tom and I took the two halves to the back of the driveway where I was able to empty them out with a shovel. It's a wonder there was room for any hot water. In fact we couldn't take two showers or do the dishes after even one shower. Now we have a new tank with quick recovery and we've never run out of hot water.
Life keeps getting better.
[Update 09/19/24]: Tom suggested we put the two halves of the water heater out by the road with a FREE sign on them. Metal, after all, is a sought commodity. So we wheeled them out last weekend [09/15/24] They sat there all week. No takers. Then late afternoon yesterday [09/18/24] I heard a truck stop. It backed into our driveway and when I looked again the water heater was gone. So we won't have to haul them to the dump ... and pay a dumping fee. This story has a happy ending.
There's been talk about yesterday's Blue Moon. I couldn't figure out why it was "blue" since the traditional definition is for two full moon's in a single calendar month (because a lunar month is 29.5 days). The only way that can happen is if the first full moon occurs within the first day or so of the month. Hardly on the 19th.
So here's what Google says:
There are two types of blue moons: seasonal and monthly. The one Monday will be of the seasonal variety. A seasonal blue moon occurs when there are four full moons in a single season (on this occasion, summer). The third of the four is considered a blue moon when this happens.
Late evening I looked at Sky Map on my phone and saw the moon was soon to rise. My friend in Florida was already enjoying the just-risen moon but my horizon was still dark. I'd say that proves he lives east of me and was seeing the moon rise earlier.
Moonrise in Plant City FL - Courtesy Jim Saylor
But soon enough my southeastern horizon was aglow and I headed out to view the moonrise.
Too bad the power pole was in the way but other spots in the yard placed branches and obstructions in the way (I was standing in our driveway).
So then I went in and got my Canon camera and placed it on a tripod to get a close-up of the risen moon.
Nothing "blue" about that. In fact nothing unusual even though they say the moon is closer to the earth in its orbit and is thus a little larger than normal. It was a combination "Super" and "Blue" moon.
I've always loved Nanci Griffith's song about a blue moon ...
Today Tom and I drove to Germantown and happened by Valley View High School on the way. I immediately spotted a fairy ring in the lawn and we made a mental note to stop on the way home so I could photograph it.
I've seen them before, once in my own yard. And yet they are a rare phenomena that never fail to grab my attention.
At first one would think the circular shape unreal. But when you consider that the fungus started in the middle and spread out equally in all directions, a circle is the natural result. It's the same progression of a stone tossed into water.
I suppose in this case water had an actual hand in its construction. We had two rain events in the past week - 1.61" on 07/30 and 1.17" on 08/02 - and they provided the moisture needed for the fungus to flourish. Conditions must have to be perfect to create the ring rather than individual random mushrooms.
In any case, this is why we keep our eyes open to what nature provides for our entertainment. Nature rocks.
I've always wanted to be in Bear Lake, Michigan for their annual festivity called Bear Lake Days. I never quite made it, always arriving early or late for our vacations there. This year it turns out that BLD was scheduled the weekend of my 75th birthday and I mentioned to my brother that I'd love to be there this year especially, what with double the incentive.
Some time ago he asked whether I'd like to go. Tom had even suggested a vacation with Bob would be great. Tom offered to cat- and dog-sit. So we planned a short weekend trip, from July 12 to July 15 and I reserved a room at Motel Bear Lake.
By the time we got back yesterday we had driven 1167.8 miles.
I'll post select pictures from the trip - all fond memories for me - and they'll be in the order I took them.
Friday, July 14
We arrived at the motel at about 6PM on Friday, July 12. We left Bob's house at 8:30AM so the trip took longer than usual. I-23N between Ann Arbor and Flint was a construction zone and therefore a parking lot. We probably wasted an hour on this section of highway.
I wanted to see the new May Buell Park near at the Public Access area across from the Dayton Bear Lake Outing Club. It was just recently (June 14) dedicated. I remember her; she was the editor of the Manistee County Pioneer Press newspaper which served Bear Lake. The park is located where her house stood.
It's directly across the road from the Dayton Outing Club.
Sunset later that day was gorgeous across Bear Lake, This shot was taken from Hopkins Park.
And this shot was taken near the Bear Lake sign facing MI-31. Neither of us look that happy ... but we were.
Here I am, 75 years old, and getting a little worse for the wear. The Beatles hoodie was a gift from Tom. Anyone who knows me knows that the Beatles are an important part of my life, then and now.
Bob bought my birthday breakfast: two eggs, toast, a pancake and coffee. Delicious!
Then on to Pierport where we walked along the shore of Lake Michigan. We are both too young to remember the piers but not the wooden uprights which remained in the lake for some time.
Bill
A nice sand castle remained from an earlier construction.
On the road (off MI-22) the cherry trees are still loaded with fruit. Why?
Bob
Back at the motel we rested a bit before moving on. Lots to get done in just a couple of days!
There were few people at the motel early in the day and that's understandable. But while the pool was empty when I took this shot, it was busy later.
Bill
The BLD Car Show
The car show was held in the parking lot of the Bear Lake Bar. The bar was closed and looked like it was out of business. The building on the right is the rear our motel.
The Dayton Bear Lake Outing Club
The first cottage is the one we owned when Bob and I were kids. Here's a quick walk-through ...
The Cherry Hut
It seems like every year we vacationed in Bear Lake as a family we managed a visit - or two - to The Cherry Hut in Beulah.
Great food but 2024 prices are nothing like the 1960's! A veggie sandwich (delicious!), French fries and Cole slaw (with tip) was over $22.
Bob got a slice of their famous Cherry Pie Ala Mode - and it's to kill for - but at $4.75 for just a slice of pie (without ice cream) I had to pass.
Bear Lake Days Parade
Bear Lake always has their parade in the evening. This one stared at 8PM. This is the scene at about that time. Quite a crowd had already gathered. The parade met near Bear Lake Middle/High School and would pass us from left to right in this shot.
How does a tiny village of this size put on such a massive parade? Bear Lake's population in 2022 was just 335 and surely there were a thousand in attendance. I suppose some of the number were "outsiders". At least two were from Farmersville and Germantown, Ohio.
The Fireworks Show
What an amazing display of pyrotechnics! I suppose it' didn't last more than twenty minutes but it was continual and powerful while it was running. We stayed at the motel which was near and above the place where the rockets were launched. I understand they fire them off from a barge placed near the shore.
Here's a wide-angle view ...
That's the Blarney Castle gas station in the foreground.
Here's some of my favorites ...
Quite impressive. I was close enough that the concussions pounded me. Bob stayed closer to our room and parked himself in a chair to watch.
Sunday, July 14
Milkweed is in bloom at Bear Lake, far exceeding the sparse crop we have here. And yet I did not see a single Monarch butterfly.
Bob
We visited a boat launch at a public access spot on the Big Bay.
Bill
Bob
Bill
This is a view looking back towards the Dayton Club from a walk we took along Lakeside Avenue.
Credit: Google Maps
Bob walking north on Butwell Road. He and dad and I used to do this daily when we were on vacation.
Sumac in bloom.
Frankfort Light
What's a trip to Bear Lake without a visit to Frankfort Light? We must have seen it a few hundred times and yet it's still a spot we return to.
Bob
Bill
Arcadia Overlook
Arcadia Overlook - we always called it Lookout Point - is another spot we've been to a hundred times. We never get tired of this view.
Sweet Vibes
Tom I visited this ice cream shop several times - last year with Parker - and it was called Papa J's. It's probably under new ownership now. At least the name has changed to Sweet Vibes.
The ice cream shown above was cherry with almond flavoring and chunks of chocolate throughout. This visit, without a dog, we were able to eat inside rather than at a table at a nearby park.
With our trip coming to an end, we took a walk along S Shore Drive. Earlier clouds broke and we were left with a beautiful evening. But we returned to the motel and watched A Man Called Otto on Netflix. We were worn out ... not to mention hot.
Monday, July 15
Back on the road by 8AM, we arrived home before 4 PM. It was quite a whirlwind trip and great fun from start to finish.
Jimmy Johns
We stopped for lunch about 1PM in Dundee, Michigan at Jimmy Johns.
