Planets in the Evening Sky

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The evening sky has provided opportunities in February and early March to view several planets grouped together. In mid February there was an alignment of four planets and one asteroid: Venus, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Vesta. Only two of these were visible with the unaided eye but even a short exposure on a camera showed the other three objects. Okay…some of them were still hard to see.

The evening sky with four planets and an asteroid: Venus, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Vesta (19 February 2023).
The evening sky with four planets and an asteroid: Venus, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Vesta (19 February 2023).
Zodiacal Light and airglow.
Zodiacal Light and airglow.

A short time later the Zodiacal Light became prominent along with some faint airglow bands near the horizon.

Venus and Jupiter in the evening twilight sky.
Venus and Jupiter in the evening twilight sky.
Venus and Jupiter in the evening twilight sky. A waxing Moon illuminated both the foreground meadow and the peaks in the distance.
Venus and Jupiter in the evening twilight sky. A waxing Moon illuminated both the foreground meadow and the peaks in the distance.

In early March the planets Venus and Jupiter were very near each other in the evening sky. Cloudy skies prevented me from getting photographs at their closest approach but a few days later I was able to capture these images from Bonito Park near Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.

 

 

Crane Petroglyph Site at V Bar V Ranch

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We visited the Crane Petroglyph Site at V Bar V Ranch over the weekend. We were fortunate that the volunteer docent on site that day was local expert Ken Zoll who discovered that the thousand-year old site was a solar calendar that marked ancestral Puebloan planting and harvesting cycles.

Petroglyph panel at Crane Petroglyph Site at V Bar V Ranch.
Petroglyph panel at Crane Petroglyph Site at V Bar V Ranch.
The panel depicting cranes at Crane Petroglyph Site at V Bar V Ranch.
The panel depicting cranes at Crane Petroglyph Site at V Bar V Ranch.

More information about the site and Ken Zole can be found in the article at Green Living Magazine.

Snow, Snow, and More Snow

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This has been an exceptional winter for snowfall. Currently, we are in the top 10 for all-time snowfall amounts and we still have a month (or more) to go. This much snow brings a lot of work clearing the driveway, sidewalks, and even the roof.

But there is an upside and we get to ski. An earlier post showed a day spent on the San Francisco Peaks. There are also some nice trails and small hills closer to our home and we have found ourselves skiing this gentle terrain several times this winter.

Heading out of Fort Tuthill County Park.
Heading out of Fort Tuthill County Park.
Outside the boundaries of the park are a few small hills that allow us to get in some downhill runs on our skis.
Outside the boundaries of the park are a few small hills that allow us to get in some downhill runs on our skis.
We just go up and down a bunch of times.
We just go up and down a bunch of times.
But first we have to dig ourselves out and clear the driveway. Note that the road is not yet cleared.
But first we have to dig ourselves out and clear the driveway. Note that the road is not yet cleared.
Sidewalk tunnels.
Sidewalk tunnels.
This chart shows that we are having an "Extreme Winter" in Flagstaff.
This chart shows that we are having an “Extreme Winter” in Flagstaff.

This chart shows that we are having an “Extreme Winter” in Flagstaff.

Fortunately, we are experiencing a break in the winter storm pattern and the warm temperatures are melting the snow. But it will take time.