The Wolf Moon

If you haven't figured it out yet, I have a thing for full moons. There's something spectacular that draws me outside on (in tonight's case) a freezing winter's night to go moon-gazing. I first went out to watch the moon rise over the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range behind Santa Fe and then again a couple of hours later, viewing it as it peeked over my rooftop.

So what is so spectacular about tonight's full moon? I Googled it and found out all kinds of information (Yahoo Article Here). First of all, it is the first full moon of 2010 and as such is nicknamed "The Wolf Moon." (For a list of each month's nickname see SPACE.com's site.) Anyway, according to Native American legend, it is called the Wolf Moon because wolves like to howl at the full moon on cold winter nights.

Second of all, the moon is 14% bigger and 30% brighter tonight than on any other night and it is remarkable that it coincided with the full moon. The reason is because the moon has an elliptical and lopsided orbit and is at it's closest point to the earth tonight. This only happens once or twice a year. So if you live near the coast, expect higher tides tonight than normal.

If you look really close at my photo, you'll see a tiny white speck to the left of the full moon. This is Mars. You can't tell in the picture, but if you look at it with a telescope you might be able to tell that it has a reddish tinge to it.

I hope the skies are clear where you live and you get to get out tonight to see the full Wolf Moon!

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Neat

"Let all that you do be done in love"
1 Cor 16:14

Some Words to Remember

"Never judge a person until you've walked a mile in their shoes."

"I haven't failed, I've found 10,000 ways that don't work." Thomas Edison

“We're so busy watching out for what's just ahead of us that we don't take time to enjoy where we are.” Bill Watterson (Calvin & Hobbes)

Life is truly a ride. We're all strapped in, and no one can stop it. As you make each passage from youth to adulthood to maturity, sometimes you put your arms up and scream, sometimes you just hang on to that bar in front of you. But the ride is the thing. I think the most you can hope for at the end of life is that your hair's messed, you're out of breath, and you didn't throw up." Jerry Seinfeld

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." Benjamin Franklin

"Duct tape is like the force: It has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together."

“If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.” Lewis Carroll

“The Answer to the Great Question Of.....Life, the Universe and Everything.....(is) Forty-two.” Douglas Adams

“We have no right to ask when a sorrow comes, 'Why did this happen to me?' unless we ask the same question for every joy that comes our way.”

“I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” Mother Teresa

“I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” Jimmy Dean

“Perhaps our eyes need to be washed by our tears once in a while, so that we can see Life with a clearer view again.” Alex Tan

“Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans” John Lennon

“I think we dream so we don't have to be apart so long. If we're in each other's dreams, we can be together all the time.” Bill Watterson (Calvin & Hobbes)

(Credit is given where known, otherwise I have no idea who conjured the quote. Google them and let me know!)

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Neat

"Let all that you do be done in love"
1 Cor 16:14

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

I first visited the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks near Cochiti Pueblo in northern New Mexico about 7 years ago when my parents were visiting. I'm so glad that I was able to go back for a visit and to take a trail that we didn't go on before, this time taking an old college friend with us.

Seven years ago we all went on the Cave Loop Trail, which is about a mile long and led you next to a cave used by Native Americans 4,000 years ago. The cave was up off of the ground, which was advantageous to the natives so that they could have a great view of the valley and remain safe from wild animals wandering in. This visit we took the extension named the Slot Canyon Trail that wound through a narrow canyon and up to an overlook (2 miles there and back). There was still a little bit of snow on the ground where the trail started a steep ascent which made some difficult scrambling up the trail. It was a beautiful winter day, about 45°, with clear skies. At the overlook we were able to see Sandia Peak in Albuquerque, Santa Fe Baldy in Santa Fe, and more of the Jemez Mountains above the Pajarito Plateau that we were standing on.

Here's a little bit of geology for you: The landscape first began as layers of ash, pumice, and tuff that settled out from the debris launched from a volcanic explosion and the pyroclastic flows outward from it about 6 million years ago. Over time wind and water carved out the shapes to form the unique tent rock landscape that is not found in very many places on earth besides the Pajarito Plateau. The area is known for its tent rocks and hoodoos as well as the beautiful layers of the rock. Canyons and arroyos have been carved out of the rock as well.

Hoodoos are tent rocks with a cap on the top of them that formed when weathering around large boulders caused the softer rock below to wear away, creating the tent shape and leaving the boulders on top of them.

If you are ever in the area, I'd love to take you there! It is fascinating and beautiful. And if you aren't a geologist, there is a lot of biology and history in the area as well. The area is famous for its archaeology, bird watching, and plant identification.

~~~~~~~~~
Neat

"Let all that you do be done in love"
1 Cor 16:14