Cold Astronomy

By John Reed

On some days, especially during fall and winter months, I can see Mount Sequoia of Fayetteville from certain vantage points in Rogers.  Sometimes it's so clear it stands out as a dark purple lump on the southern horizon, thus marking the beginning of the Boston Mountains.  This is my personal barometer for clear skies.  If I can see that tell tale image I know it's going to be a night to brave the cold and lose some sleep.  Whether or not I do this depends on other variables, such as sheer will power and my present level of dedication to astronomy.

On nights like these it's worth checking out the sky, even if only from in town.  It's good to reintroduce oneself to the sky's ever changing face.  Now that it gets dark so early this is practical even on a week night.  The sky in now becoming vastly different than the summer months.  The big change of course is the setting of the summer milkyway: that vast banner reminiscent of shirt sleeve observing and magnificent star clouds.  Now the river of light is shifting from north-south to east-west, finally to revolve back to north-south.  This transformation has never failed to fascinate me.  It's due of course to the galactic pole passing the meridian, as it does twice a year.  The milkyway of winter is a pale ghost in comparison to its summer brother.  There are some places that I'm not sure that I have even seen it, even though I know it is a continuous band.  It's a cold light for a cold season, but the winter sky does have it's compensations.

Aurega is full of bright open clusters and Orion has its magnificent sword.  The Big Dipper finally begins its slow ascent from its hiding place on the horizon.  Perseus with its double cluster rides high, near the zenith.  The Andromeda galaxy gleams from deep in intergalactic space.  The "V" of the Hyades shine brilliantly.

It seems my will power is sufficient this time.  As I stand there listening to my clock drive whirring like a wind up toy, allowing an image to slowly build on a piece of photographic emulsion I realize that the winter sky is cold, but that it is also very beautiful.

The shivering I feel may not be due entirely to temperature.