These are random musings of my life journey, the people, animals, places, and events which have woven, and continue to weave, a tapestry that is me. We all know there is no real destination, only the ongoing experiences which blend together, creating the trail. Each step gives a glimpse of what is to come, without allowing me to see the end result. It is exciting. I have a home base that is mine, that gives me a place to rest. This is it. This is where my heart is, no matter where I journey...................

Thursday, July 19, 2007

What Happens At Night

You know, sometimes you see things better in the dark than you do in the light. No, really!

I went out last night to take the dogs for their last constitutional before bedtime, and I didn't turn the porch light on as I usually do. I decided to avoid attracting the 3.8 million bugs that swarm around the light when I do that. I always take the flashlight with me to light the steps for the dogs. With both of them losing vision rather fast, they hesitate a lot at night, and when I shine the light on the steps just ahead of them, they do much better.

So we went down the steps and while they were on flat surfaces, I turned the light off. As I waited for them, I looked up at the sky and just gasped. Without the porch light, far away from any vestige of city lights, and without a big shiny moon, the sky was amazing. I have watched in the recent months, but not without out those aforementioned encumberments. I even got Gail to come outside and just look at it.

The Milky Way was truly milk-like. It was so bright and filled the center of the sky with those millions of stars that are its composition. Every star was a pinpoint of light outside the Milky Way. I remember looking at the starry skies in Kansas City and being awed, but this is something completely different. Without any town light closer than 10 miles (and that's a very small town, mostly "buttoned up" at that time of night) it was so different. Ten miles outside KC or Houston or Minneapolis or wherever isn't the same as ten miles from the few lights of Capitan, pop. 1280. Ruidoso is larger, between 7500 to 15,000 with tourists, but it also on the other side of several mountains, so I don't see even a glimmer of its lights at night.

My camera is great for shots of flora here on earth, but not start that are millions of miles away, so I resorted to the Internet for this picture. But as you look at the Milky Way in the following photo, imagine the background to be black, black, black. Yeah, awesome!


So now ... close your eyes. NO, WAIT!! You can't read with your eyes closed. Silly me! Close the eyes inside your head and imagine a dark, dark black sky, with bright diamond dots scattered all over it. The Big Dipper is almost three-dimensional. It was almost at this angle last night, but a bit more in the "pouring" position.


Everything was awesomely vivid. I wish we'd had this map, because it would have been fairly easy to identify the various constellations with their brightness.


I'm going out again tonight and see if I can identify several more sets of stars. I didn't even think of coming in and checking out the Internet sites last night because I was just in such rapture over the magnitude of it all. Maybe I'll even find Aries, the stars of my zodiac sign.



I haven't been camping in many years, away from city lights. And in Missouri, I think it would have been more difficult to get this far from lights. Towns are far closer together there and on flatter landscapes, so the light would carry more than it does here. It was a breathtaking experience, and I'm so glad I finally looked up on that clear dark night! Now I'm wishing for a good telescope. That would be excellent. Maybe some day I will indulge myself. Till then, I just have to look up more often and begin to memorize my sky.



(Night) Life is beautiful!!!

15 comments:

  1. anonymous #2 says......who needs pictures when you describe these things so vividly. thank you!

    Northern lights are even more awesome when viewed in northern Canada.

    Ruth

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  2. now I dont know if I am anonymous or back to Ruth. Some days it works and some days it doesnt.

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  3. Ruth - Does this mean you have a shifty personality??? LOL! Anyway, glad you made it and thanks for the kind words. I'd love to see the Northern lights one day. I love any new experience with the world I live in. It is just full of wonders, isn't it?

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  4. I love, love, love starry skies. Beautiful pic Lynilu!

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  5. Yes! A desert sky is the most phenomenal. Well that and maybe an ocean sky.

    So you're in Ruidoso?? Beautiful place, that.

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  6. Patti - Me, too!

    Jenster - I agree the ocean sky is gorgeous, but I actually think the desert sky is more, hm, I guess the word would be "dramatic."

    I live outside Ruidoso, a rural area with Nogal (formerly Dry Gulch!!) as my address. Yes, this whole high mesa is scrumptious!

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  7. I love the night life.. I like to boo-gay..

    I couldn't help myself.. :P

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  8. I remember when I lived in New Mexico and Colorado the beautiful night sky. I am very happy for you that you can enjoy such beauty.

    Goodlife my friend.

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  9. *sigh* I love the stars. You are so lucky to live in a place where you can see them and enjoy them. Send a wish up for me tonight, will you? :)

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  10. Oh my goodness...I'm speechless!!! (I know you're shocked...lol). All that comes to mind is...AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL!!!

    Have a beautiful weekend!

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  11. Oh Lynilu, how very very very beautiful. Those stars in that clear sky were amazing.

    Thank you for sharing so much of your life through this blog and your pictures.

    I get so much from it, an appreciation of life and nature, and an enjoyment of things I would have otherwise missed.

    Blessings to you and those you love,
    Loving Annie

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  12. Daisy - Thanks!

    Burg - LOL! I thought of that when I posted the final line! You go, girl!!!

    Robert - What is is about these skies? Daytime or nighttime, it doesn't matter, because these are amazing skies. I feel so close to my spiritual center in this place.

    Glad you stopped by, and good life to you also, dear man.

    Casey - Oh, I certainly will do that. I know I'm lucky, and I'm happy to share all I can because it is too beautiful to even try to keep it to myself. It is far bigger than I. Glad you enjoy!

    Dawn - Oh, thank you! I must admit it is hard to picture you speechless!! ;-) Good weekend to you, also!

    Annie - I'm so happy that you enjoy this. That is the greatest gift anyone can have, I think. Sharing the joys in my life is my way of sending smiles to all of you.

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  13. When I was out there last April I spent a lot of time looking at the sky when I would take Sophie out at night. It took my breath away.

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  14. Caroline - You said it well ... it just takes your breath away. BTW, there were some cigarette butts next to the big thing we cut up. I surely hope they were yours!! Otherwise, I have a peeping Tom, and I'm not always well covered when I'm here alone!!

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If you have something to say about it, just stick out your thumb, and I'll slow down so you can hop aboard! But hang on, 'cause I'm movin' on down the road!!! No time to waste!!!