Last in a Lifetime Event June 5/6, 2012

On June 5/6, 2012 there is a last in a lifetime event happening.  Depending one where you are in the world you may be able to catch a glimpse of this occurrence.  Last time this happened was June 2004 and the next time will not be until December 2117.  That's over a hundred years from now!

So what is this amazing event??

It is the Transit of Venus.  A transit, in astronomy terms, is when one object passes in front of the face of another object. In this case, it is when the planet Venus passes between Earth and the Sun such that we see it move across the face of the Sun.

WARNING: DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN!! 

THIS WILL DAMAGE YOUR EYES!!!!

Venus will appear as a tiny dot moving across the face of the Sun.  This alignment where Earth, Venus and the Sun are along the same plane does not happen often, and usually occurs in pairs 8 years apart.  So if you missed the June 8th, 2004 transit of Venus, this one of 2012 will be your last chance to try to catch it as the next time this happens is December 11, 2117.   

For more information on safe viewing of this event and when to see it in your location see the website TransitOfVenus.org.  Check to online see if your local observatory, planetarium or stargazing/astronomy clubs will be hosting an event during the transit.  The closer you are to middle of the Pacific the better chance you will have of viewing of the full transit, which takes about six hours from start until finish.  Otherwise you might just catch it either at sunrise or sunset.  East Coast of the United States will see the transit as the sun is setting beginning around 6:04pm and until 8:30pm when the Sun has set. 

The Maryland Science Center, located at Baltimore's Inner Harbor, will be hosting a viewing event from 6pm-8pm.  There will be various ways available to safely view the transit as well as other fun hands-on activities.  The activities will start before the transit begins, and will continue until the Sun and Venus go behind the buildings. 

I know I will be there to see this rare event and I hope you will join me, Meet Me Outdoors.

Quarry Lake and Sorbet

After a series of really hot days outside I decided that some sorbet/ice cream would be a good way to cool off and in the process I went to a place that had outdoor seating with a view.  I ended up at Quarry Lake shopping area which has a nice little ice cream shop.  Across from the shopping area is Quarry Lake, which was once a  stone mine starting around the mid-1800s until a little over a decade ago. 

The mine is now filled with water and is known as Quarry Lake. It is surrounded by a development community and has a shopping center.  I go there for a view of the lake and for the sorbet.  There is a walking path around the lake and some benches to sit and admire the scenery.  In the picture above there are some ducks.  About a minute after I took that picture a flock of geese were squawking and flying in for a landing in the lake.  It was funny as they seemed to take over from the ducks that were already there.  I spotted the Moon up in the sky when I was walking around. On my way back I saw my first firefly of the season, I remember catching them as a kid... ok, ok even last year I caught a couple.  You just have to be very gentle with them when you catch them so they don't squish.

There were lots of families that had the same idea I had of going for a frozen treat and enjoying the beautiful evening.  As it gets closer to summer the days are getting longer and hotter so it is refreshing to have a nice evening such as tonight. 

With Memorial Day tomorrow I know there are going to be lots of people outside  picnicking and/or having a barbecue.  Just remember if you are spending lots of time outside to stay cool and remember to use sunblock to avoid a burn.  Enjoy the start of summer fun, Meet Me Outdoors.

Ciclovia 2012

Today is the day for Ciclovia 2012 here in Baltimore.  This year 3 miles of streets are being blocked off from cars from Roland Park to Druid Hill Park.  You can stroll, ride a bike or even enjoy the festivities and activities at the Roland Water Tower. 
Here is the flyer and route map:

• Ciclovía Flyer
• Route Map 

More info go to: http://www.rolandpark.org/Ciclovia.html  I hope to get a chance to walk the streets with other Ciclovia participants.

Not in Baltimore? You can still enjoy the spring season by taking a nice stroll or bike ride through your neighborhood.  If riding your bike, remember to wear a safety helmet. Perhaps on your adventure you will discover something new just by taking a slower pace and exploring.

Enjoy the day, Meet Me Outdoors

Topsy-Turvy Seasons

This winter has been very mild in the Baltimore area. I have only seen it snow twice and it never stuck.  Not that I am complaining, but it would be nice to have a proper winter.  I miss making a snow person or a fort out of snow for protection during a snowball fight.

Currently it is supposed to be late winter. However, one look outside it would reveal a different story.  There are daffodils popping up, cherry trees blooming, and temperature up in the mid-70s.  It's like spring decided to come early.  Either that or winter is playing hide and seek.  I know that other places in the country either got more than normal amounts of snow, or much less.  What about where you are? Did you have any topsy-turvy seasons in your area?

No matter if you have 2 feet of snow that is still hanging around or it feels like it is practically summer out you should still go outside and have a good time.  I walked along the roof of my office to get a few extra moments in the beautiful weather. Hope to do more walking around outdoors, maybe even up to Federal Hill Park during a lunch break.  A picnic at the park would be great way to spend it.  Meet Me Outdoors.

Exploring Chapel Hill, NC

In need of a vacation I decided to travel to a different state and explore one if its small towns.  I ended up going to Chapel Hill, NC which started in partner with the University of Northern Carolina at Chapel Hill.  I spent most of my first day walking around the college campus.  What I like most about the campus is there is a lot of green space.  Unlike the city where almost everywhere you look is concrete, this campus had lots of lawn space and patches of forest among the buildings. 

Can you see all 7 squirrels? Some you can only see their tail.

I came across some interesting finds as I walked and took some pictures.  This first one on the right is one of my favorites.  If you look carefully enough you will see 7 gray squirrels. They blend in well with the patchy green lawn. This blending in with the surroundings is called camouflage.  I didn't notice them at first as I was walking I heard some chewing sounds and when I looked carefully saw all these squirrels munching on acorns.  So I took a picture of the whole bunch and then of the two squirrels nearest to me.  They didn't seem to mind that I was there, but I did keep my distance so I wouldn't disturb their meal.

Dinner time for squirrels.

I also came across some interesting plants along my walk.  Not sure what half of them are but they rather colorful considering it was end of December.   While North Carolina has a warmer climate than where I live now, but not by much.  I still enjoyed looking at the different plant-life and looking for critters that were still out and about. Below are the various plants I saw as I wondered about Chapel Hill.

Now that it is winter time there were lots of bushes with berries on them.  These bright colored berries are to attract birds who eat them.  The pit or seed of the berry dispersed by the birds.   

I guess the birds aren't the only ones who find them to be attractive, because I took many pictures of berries on my walk, not just red but also blue colored ones.  They reminded me of grapes because they are in large bunches but the leaves are not the right shape for grape leaves.  I was not about to taste a unknown berry since you never know if it is poisonous or not, so I saved them for the birds and other animals to enjoy.

Hikes like this one are great to do as a fun exploration around town, but if you want to have a goal or ideas of ways to make the walk more interactive check out the Exploration page.  I made this into a Photo Safari for me.  The Rainbow Hunt is great activity for autumn.  Now that it is winter maybe you can do some tracking in the snow and be an Animal Track Detective.

Next time you travel see if there are some nature spots to explore.  Bundle up and Meet Me Outdoors.