arrives in Castle Valley just before year’s end, and my feathered friends seem a little bewildered.
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) peering in the window.
Male White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys).
Where is...
the James Webb Space Telescope?
Now three days after its launch, and past the orbit of the Moon, it’s about to deploy the sunshade in order to keep the sensitive IR instruments cool. Follow the critical events over the next 30 days by clicking on the link below the image.
LINK: Where is Webb?
VIDEO: JWST Deployment Sequence
The most ubiquitous bird...
at the feeding stations this winter, and voted most likely to be grabbed by the hawk. I’m waiting.
Male Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis).
Female Dark-eyed Junco fanning its tail feathers.
Last quarter Moon...
captured this morning and annotated with the Apollo landing sites on the illuminated portion.
Apollo 12 — Oceanus Procellarum — November 19, 1969
Apollo 14 — Fra Mauro — February 5, 1971
Iridescent visitors...
at the watering hole.
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris).
I’ve kept a 50W de-icer in the birdbath once the overnight temperature dropped below freezing and the birds are loving the access to the water.
Death on the wing...
takes a quick time out after swooping through the feeding station on a breakfast run. Note the feathers in its lifted talons.
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus).
Vibrant dawn skies...
mark the first full day of winter above the La Sal Mountains. Peachy.
Discretely watching from afar...
and semi-hidden in a cottonwood tree in hope of grabbing a meal at the bird feeding station. This isn’t a very good photograph, but I do enjoy watching the hunting strategy of this frequently visiting predator. Hey, everybody has to eat!
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus).
Deer herds have descended...
to the valley floor as winter sets in, and about 30 muleys regularly aggregate on my property at dusk. We’re still getting to know one another.
Female mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus).
This road alignment...
with Castleton Tower is probably not accidental. Snapped this today while out on a ride, the last full day of autumn. Here comes winter.
Left to right: Priest and Nuns, Castleton Tower and Adobe Mesa.
A Boeing 787 Dreamliner in flight...
between (I’m guessing) 30,000 to 35,000 feet altitude, cruising eastward, caught in this handheld shot with my Canon 500 mm prime telephoto lens. Gawd I love this big glass.
December's Full Cold Moon...
setting behind Porcupine Rim earlier this morning. This moon is also known as the Full Long Nights Moon and the Moon Before the Yule. Regardless, it’s cold out there!
(Click on image to enlarge.)
Moonrise reprise...
this evening, about an hour later and a little further northward in its position compared to last night. Full moon occurs tomorrow night, and I’m in a howling mood.
December's nearly full Moon...
rising behind Castleton Tower, aka Castle Rock, early this evening. Just five more days until the winter solstice.
Takeoff into the wind...
from a furtive perch in the four-wing saltbush.
Mature White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys).
Here’s a brave juvenile on the ground. Beware of the hawk!
Upper Castle Valley panorama...
shot this afternoon, showing fresh snow in the La Sals after the last storm three days prior.
Left to right: Adobe Mesa, Round Mountain, the high La Sal Mountains, and Porcupine Rim. (Click on image to embiggen.)
Caught on the trail cam...
Back side of a mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus).
A badge of nerdiness...
arrived in the mail, a holiday card from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory featuring simple abstract depictions of Mars, the Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter. Cool.
Get up-to-date regarding the on-going 2020 Mars Perseverance Rover mission.
Here’s an excellent article discussing the watery and sedimentary history of Jezero Crater.
Waxing gibbous Moon...
captured early this evening, 69% full, annotated with the general location of the Apollo landing sites on the illuminated portion.
Apollo 11 — Mare Tranquillitatis — July 20, 1969
Apollo 15 — Hadley/Apennines — July 30, 1971
Apollo 16 — Descartes — April 20, 1972
Apollo 17 — Taurus-Littrow — December 11, 1972
The International Dark Sky Association...
recognizes places that adopt quality outdoor lighting ordinances in order to protect dark skies, and the Town of Castle Valley is preparing an application to be designated an International Dark Sky Community. I’ve been asked to contribute some astroimages to support the application and I’m more than happy to help.
Star trails above the historic Pace homestead in Castle Valley, Utah (shot June, 2020).
Here’s more about International Dark Sky Places.