Skip to main content

Eta Aquarids - 2017

As luck would have it, the first two nights I was back in Northlandia coincided with the annual Eta Aquarids meteor shower.  I juiced up the camera battery, put the tripod in the back of the truck, threw on some warm clothes and headed out to a spot near the Grind that is a favorite of mine.  It is a lone roadway to a circular cul-de-sac that exists to 1) either be a lane for future businesses or 2) a landing pad for UFO's.  

As I was setting up and relearning my settings for nightime pictures I saw a couple nicely brilliant meteors to the south.  I pointed the camera there and for the next hour and a half I took 60 second pictures hoping for the best.

Sadly, hoping doesn't make for great pictures with falling stars streaming from the heavens.   These are the only pictures worth even a glance.  A perfect Monday morning mess of Meh.  Nothing here to look at, folks, so keep moving on.     




































Three points before I let you go to conquer whatever you will conquer today.  (After you conquer your oatmeal.)

One, I was able to work one of the functions of the camera that allowed me to set it up and the camera would automatically snap pics by itself every 30 seconds thus allowing me to walk aimlessly enjoying the evening sky and watching for meteors or landing UFO's. 

Secondly, I was colder than Hell to coin an awkward metaphor.  In fact I was cold most of the time I was up there, which was just fine with me.  Loved it.  I slept with the electric blanket on most nights and reveled in the toasty coziness of it all. 


I'll close this worthless post with a bit of a teaser.  While back in Northlandia and savoring the wonderful unmolested night sky I had a couple outings that, in my humble estimation, are quite fascinating and beautiful Milky Way pictures.   You will get them soon, and if your subscription is about to lapse, you will want to re-subscribe so as not to miss these gems. 

Now, go conquer! 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Flashback Friday

Class, Or Lack Thereof The Dwight Vice gravestone in Oquawka, Illinois. I bring this old chestnut out every so often just to remind me that class is classless.  Dwight Vice was killed in his home near Oquawka in 2001.  It was one of those things that can generate crime:  two guys thought Dwight had a lot of money stashed at home because of his pot-selling sideline to supplement his fishing job.   Not really one of those big drug deals gone-bad things.  Marijuana was, according to the trial, about the only stuff Dwight sold.   But these two guys barge into the house and killed Dwight and attempted to kill his 11 year old kid, Darryl, before they took off with what money they could find.   His son, now 23, was stabbed in the back and left for dead.  He survived and is wheelchair bound and has undergone several surgeries to repair his wounds.  He will be paralyzed for life.   None of this is pleasant.  Reading the f...

The Mary Davis Home - Part 2

None of these pictures were taken by me,  they came right from the MDH website.  I am posting these so that friends who have never seen inside where I worked can gain access.  After 27 years I have many stories, tales and acquaintances.  But, I wouldn't know how to express them appropriately in a few paragraphs.  I enjoyed 98% of my stay there and hope I made a difference in the lives of a fraction of the kids who entered.  The original MDH at this site was just the front part.  The large red-roofed area in back was added on in the 90's. This is the Jerry Carlton library.  It was unofficially named after one of the counselors who truly loved the place.   He passed away around 2002, I think.  Mr. Farber looks like he is explaining a few things to a client. The classroom. Activity area with the gym behind the windows. Another shot of the classroom. It was a little different area to teach since we had 2 classes and 2 teachers i...

Tuesday Tidbits On Wednesday

This week I will be heading up to the Cabin in the Woods.  I think I have come up with a long list of things to do and take care of.  As is usually the case, however, it won't take long till I miss the girls. It's kind of a Stockholm Syndrome in reverse, or circle.  My primary concern is Alfred and her substitute situation for the next few weeks before I head back for a Dr.'s appointment and do a little sitting to help Kenzie out.   But I suppose we'll all adjust and do nicely.  On my part I am looking forward to no diapers and some rec time.   ++++++++++ This is me when I am heading up to the Cabin In The Woods. ++++++++++ Oh yeah. ++++++++++ Poor Alfred.  It'll get easier, I swear. ++++++++++   One of my dreams is to find something like this or an old car tucked away in a barn somewhere.  That is the closest corollary we have nowadays for finding a buried treasure....