On my way to Panama City, Panama

I had a window seat on my flight. Outside my window I watched the sunset behind and to the right. This means I had the western sky out of my window and I was definitely flying south.  Above the clouds I saw two planets, Jupiter on top and Venus below. 

This will be further south than I have gone before. And for someone who teaches and observes the night sky, Panama will show me more of the southern sky than I have ever seen.  Not only am I looking forward to night sky observation. I am also looking forward to seeing the tropics and exploring the nature of being in a new habitat region. Awaiting my next adventure armed with sunscreen and bug spray, Meet Me Outdoors.

So Many Stars!

I am vacationing with some friends in western Maryland near Deep Creek Lake.  After dinner it was dark out so I decided to go see what the night sky looks like.  We are staying in a semi-wooded area far from the city, to see the stars you have to look between the branches of the trees surrounding the house. Being from a city suburb with lots of street lights, the only stars you could see the brightest of the bright. The crazy amount of stars one can see in the middle of nowhere never stops to amaze me.  I even dragged my friends out to show them and point out what stars and constellations I could identify between the branches. We just kept saying "there are so many stars!" Then we would turn around and see even more stars. It is dark enough to see the faint Milky Way stretch across the sky.

My work in a planetarium allows me to show visitors a digital projection of the night sky and all of the thousands of stars and I hear how awed they are by the view.  Nothing beats seeing the real thing, it is even better. Take a trip away from the bright city lights, Meet Me Outdoors.