A Lovely Cold

By the artist Sandra Boynton (from her FB post)

Sunday, December 15, 2024

The department store where I am a part-time worker was busy yesterday; all good for the business and inspiring for its employees. After hours on my feet, checking out customers, and returning tried-on clothing to wherever the pieces came from, I leave to go home. I’m tired but happier if we’ve been super-busy with customers.

I’m off from work today and (speaking of super) anticipating tonight’s sky with December’s “Cold Moon” appearing. While driving home last evening, I couldn’t stop looking at that moon, bright and clear. From all indications, sightings of it tonight should be even better.

It’ll be spectacular, and here’s why.

The Cold Moon is the “longest” full moon illumination of the year. The moon’s proximity to the winter solstice (December 21st) gives it a longer path through the sky and gives us more viewing time.

This year’s Cold Moon happens to coincide with a rare “major lunar standstill,” which occurs roughly every 18.6 years. The standstill is caused by a wobble in its orbit that makes the moon reach its highest and lowest points in the sky.

I will enjoy tonight’s longer moon-viewing opportunity with unusually striking visual effects.

Dear Friends: Last night’s moon greatly hinted toward what’s to come. Diana

Golden Harvest

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Yesterday evening, today’s header photo was my most clear capture of September’s (always) fabulous Harvest Moon. Ever since childhood, the full September moon has been my favorite. Its brightness lights the path and powerfully signals a transition to significantly different weather. In darkening fall evenings, the Harvest Moon’s brightness encourages us to imagine late harvests, the old way with horse-drawn equipment.

After working late at my part-time job and driving home, I planned to photograph the moon but became discouraged. The large globe was barely visible and busy, dodging massive dark clouds.

I’ve played with moon photography for years but am still a novice at turning sky images into art. Yesterday evening, with art on my mind, I wished to capture the globe and earth objects, with the moon as top layer.

That top layer sometimes disappeared and an inviting empty space became an inspiring image.

This year’s Harvest Moon is also a Supermoon. That’s because it’s closer to Earth and appears slightly larger and brighter than usual.

These photos aren’t my mind’s perfect imaginings, but they satisfy. They capture splendid visual elements of the active moon and sky and earthly items. Another lovely aspect is that they touch on the moon’s emotional significance.

Dear Friends: Transition, reflection, and celebration as summer turns into autumn. Diana

A “Strawberry” Team

Friday, June 21, 2024

Yesterday was the Summer Solstice, the year’s longest day when twenty-four hours split to share equally the daylight and darkness. It marks the end of slowly increasing daylight and starts us anticipating a dark season’s gradual arrival.

The evening light lingered and illuminated us Moon-Chasers. We donned our uniforms, took a camera, and headed to an appropriate place near the airport on the city’s east side. We intended to capture this month’s almost full “Strawberry” Moon. We were going for that “nearly full” moon because commitments prevented us from chasing June’s fullest moon, happening tonight.

In lots of lingering daylight, we watched the rising moon. At first, it appeared very dimly, hovering almost invisibly over the tall trees and ridge of peaks that were our horizon. The barely visible Strawberry made us unsure we could capture it adequately, but in elevating the moon became clearer and eventually very beautiful.

Photos of that moon capture the eastern countryside’s dark sky. The darkness was a significant contrast to a lighter sky west and toward the city.

Susie and I did lots of moon and airspace shooting. We quickly recognized that we were in an area that invited playing, and we did that, too.

We love our Team Uniform!

Dear Friends: Ode to an interlude of beauty, fun, and friendship. Diana

Split Screen

A jet flies northbound as the nearly full moon rises over Washington. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)

Saturday, March 23, 2024

The Worm Moon will be at its fullest while rising in a couple of days. Early today, its waxing fullness setting in the west and brightly through my bedroom window awakened me.

I enjoy photographing full moons and plan to try capturing this month’s. Additionally, the upcoming rising full moon will be exceptional. That event includes a solar eclipse.

While doing some pre-full-worm Moon-rising research, I discovered the photo that’s today’s header. I can’t stop wondering how it was possible to capture that jet crossing against the full moon so clearly. Maybe it came from using special equipment or from an instant of sheer luck.

One of my assumptions is that the photographer was near an airport, had previously seen similar crossings, and this time had special equipment and captured the image. Another assumption is that it’s simply from a good camera–a lucky shot, and likely software-enhanced. Whatever, it’s gobsmacking.

Assuming the image is from a professional photographer lengthens the distance between that person and me. It makes the outcome less about using special equipment and/or about general good luck. It’s more a result of having the wisdom of experience and the skill of anticipating accurately.

Dear Friends: Undaunted by the near-perfection, I will be out again trying my hand. Diana