38: Warm up

As I was out and about on my walk today I got to thinking that it was unlikely I’d take any photos.  I had the camera with me, as usual, but I’ve been walking the same paths (in different orders, but still, the same paths) for 34 of the 38 days of my outdoor challenge.  How many different ways can I photograph the same things?

It’s awfully early to be thinking those kind of thoughts.  I still have a little less than 11 months to go.  If I’m already running out of camera fodder — or think I am — what will it be like in February?

So, I thought I’d give you a series of Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 shots today and leave it that.  The camera, however, had other plans.

(Wind, waves, and sunlight.)

It’s a strange day, weather-wise.  There is a silvery sheen to it.  The sky and the pond especially have that silvery look to them.

(Haloed sun.)

I usually associate this silvery appearance with the depths of winter.  The sun was surrounded by a large halo (caused by light reflecting off of high cirrus clouds).  In folklore, a halo around the sun or moon means rain or snow is on the way.  In practical terms, it’s only slightly more effective in predicting the weather than the woolly bear caterpillar (since cirrus clouds could — but not always — indicate a storm system approaching).  There is no rain or snow in the forecast (or on the radar) for today or tomorrow.

(Grays and blues above the meadow.)

It’s warmer today than it has been the past few days.  We shouldn’t get used to it, though.  Temps will be in the 30’s and 40’s for the rest of the week.

(Silvery sun in the branches.)

I went out last night to have a look at the stars.  It was cold and clear and the stars were pretty amazing, showing off their twinkling light.  I am hoping this cloud layer will move out before I go to bed tonight.  I want to do some more stargazing.  I should be able to stay out longer tonight since it isn’t as cold.

I was reading (over at Sky and Telescope) that Arcturus, the star seen in the west-northwest at twilight, is known as The Ghost of Summer Suns (very appropriate for Halloween!).  For several days around October 29th, Arcturus sits nearly in the same spot as the summer sun did during the warmer months of June and July.

So in the last days of October every year, you can think of Arcturus as the chilly Halloween ghost of the departed summer Sun.  ~ Alan M. MacRobert, Sky and Telescope

And if you happen to be awake and out before dawn on Monday morning, be sure to look for Comet Hartley 2.  On Tuesday and Wednesday there’s a possibility (slim, is seems) of a  “Hartley-id” meteor shower.  You can read about it here.  I’ll be out there looking (if the skies are clear enough for that here).