Mother of Pearl Clouds

I had not heard of these clouds before today.  How lovely!  And Mother of Pearl is close to my heart lately.  ;-)  I knew I would come across something mirroring my interest in Mother of Pearl and here it is!

From www.spaceweather.com

PEARLY CLOUDS: In Porjus, Sweden, sky watcher Patricia Cowern has sighted “the first mother of pearl clouds of the winter.” She snapped this picture on Dec. 16th:

http://www.spaceweather.com/swpod2007/28dec07/Patricia-Cowern1.jpg

“Mother of pearl or nacreous clouds are one of Nature’s most spectacular sights,” says atmospheric optics expert Les Cowley. “As far south as England we only get to see them every five years or so, but every appearance is spectacular and memorable.”

They are so rare because extreme cold is required to produce them. “Nacreous clouds are 9-16 miles (15-25km) high and way above ordinary clouds and weather. Their tiny ice crystals need exceptionally low temperatures of minus 85 Celsius (-120 F) to form.”

“In winter at high latitudes and especially downwind of mountains they are stunning after sunset or before dawn. Watch them shine brightly with slowly changing iridescent colors as they are twisted and stretched by gravity waves in the upper atmosphere.”

Comet Holmes Worthy of a Post Card

This is a very cool snapshot of Comet Holmes:

http://giuseppepetralia.interfree.it/17pholmes.htm

I lifted it from Kent’s www.cyberspaceorbit.com website who is always on top of subjects such as this one.  Space Weather is another great website to check even though they are more conservative in thought and that is okay.  www.spaceweather.com

How can anyone not be awed by the photos of Comet Holmes which have graced the Internet for months?

A Journey of Ashes

My oldest sister’s ashes were poured into the Kinderhook Creek this morning by her son at Honeysuckle Rock where we used to swim when we were young.  It’s still a beautiful place and looks pretty much the same as it did 36 years ago when we moved away.  I like the thought of the ashes floating downstream towards the Hudson River and eventually into the Atlantic Ocean.  Bye, bye, sister.  I hope you are in a better place now.  We love you!

Comet Holmes Still Impressive

Here is a nice, recent image of Comet Holmes in case you have not seen it.

http://www.spacew.com/gallery/image005818.html

I was outside twice looking for the comet last night with my binoculars but for some reason I could not find it this time and the sky was clear.  It was darn cold though!  What planet or star was I seeing up there which was so bright?  It was bright even with the naked eye.  Bright and golden yellow.