paints this golden panorama of an amazingly scenic terrain. I was out in the predawn to chase an early morning comet, but having met with no success, I returned with this expansive image. It’s a helluva back yard. You’d think the movie industry would like to film around here.
Click on the annotated image to expandify.
in remote northern Utah displays all the rocket engines and missiles they manufacture at full scale, now under corporate ownership by Northrop-Grumman. I have an enormous case of rocket envy.
The rocket garden is free and open daily to the public and includes interpretive signs and related displays. Well worth a visit if you’re heading to the Golden Spike National Historical Park which is nearby.
The submarine-launched ballistic Trident (center) with the three-stage land-based Minuteman ICBM (left of center). The enormous solid rocket booster for the Space Shuttle lays in the background.
The business end of the Space Shuttle’s solid rocket booster. When ignited, a pair of these provided 85% of the thrust at liftoff for the first two minutes of ascent. Unfortunately there are no demonstrations.
Location on Google Maps: 41.65892098884914, -112.44084106450782
after the summer’s absence via the San Rafael Swell. There’s no place like home.
Milky Way galaxy erupting a fountain of stars and nebulae, geyser-like from the rim of the Little Grand Canyon of the San Rafael River.
Sunrise from the Wedge Overlook, northern San Rafael Swell. Click on image to enlarginate.
The magnificent Buckhorn Wash pictograph panel. Click on image to embiggen.
The remote San Rafael River “Swinging Bridge” built 1935-1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
occur in the Wanapum Basalt Formation (Columbia River Basalt Group) along the Fish Lake Trail, exposed in a railroad cut through the volcanic formation within 100 yards (meters) of one another. One can easily imagine a landscape with a stand of large trees being invaded and enveloped by an advancing lava flow around 15 million years ago. I’m certain that 99% of the trail users aren’t aware of these interesting features and the story they tell.
Note the silicified wood that is preserved near the base of this large tree mold.
This tree mold is about 20 inches (0.5 meters) in diameter.
The underlying paleosol (ancient soil horizon) in which the tree were rooted is clearly seen here beneath the overlying basalt formation. This tree mold is about 15 inches (0.4 meters) in diameter and penetrates the interior of the volcanic unit.
forage in the ponderosa pine forest, announcing their presence with high-pitched peeps. They’re very tiny and very charming birds.
Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea).
and these Crossbills fully enjoy playing in the splashing water.
Red Crossbills (Loxia curvirostra), adult female on left, adult male on right.
Immature male Crossbill.
Immature female Crossbill.
are forming on area wetland ponds, relaxing, bathing and preening in advance of their seasonal migration. It’s a trigger for my seasonal migration, too.
Canada Geese (Branta canadensis).
serves as the venue for the well-named Sod Blaster VI, an annual event held during Labor Day weekend at a sod farm near Pasco, Washington. More than 100 rocketry nerds gathered to launch low- to high-power model rockets during the four day-long event. It’s fair to say that everybody here has a blast!
An array of launch pads is commanded by the launch control officer (on left) at the well organized event. A high power rocket is heading skyward from a distant pad on the range.
My Nike Smoke Pro ready to go on a mid-power launch rail. It successfully soared to a 617 foot (188 meter) apogee on a “F” rocket engine.
Preparing to attach the electrical igniter to the high power HV Arcas model rocket for my Level 1 certification attempt on a “H” engine.
The HV Arcas zipping off the pad to a 1,719 foot (524 meter) apogee. Unfortunately the rocket separated too energetically when the ejection charge fired but all components were recovered. I'll have to try again for the L1 certification given this failure during flight.
The Arreaux shooting off the pad on a “G” engine to an apogee of 1,826 feet (557 meters).
of Wild Turkeys maintains oversight of her brood as she relaxes and slowly explores the territory around the house.
Female Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo).
likes to glean insects on the ponderosa pines and is frequently observed visiting the bird bath, washing down its meal of wood-boring insects with a drink of water.
Male Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus).
in southeastern Washington where I hope to earn my Level 1 certification in order to purchase and launch bigger rocket engines in my larger/heavier model rockets. I will fly the 56 inch (142 cm) tall Aerotech HV Arcas for the certification flight, a 60% scale replica of the actual high velocity Arcas sounding rocket historically used for atmospheric research.
The Aerotech HV Arcas and the Aerotech Arreaux model rockets. The smaller and sporty Arreaux should reach 3,000 feet on a "G" engine according to computer simulations.
Based on simulations using OpenRocket software that utilizes basic physics, aerodynamic principles and the standard atmospheric model, the HV Arcas model rocket should soar to a half-mile high apogee in a flight lasting two minutes long on a “H” rocket engine. A Jolly Logic Altimeter Two will be onboard during the cert flight in order to record flight data.
Design rendering of the HV Arcas from OpenRocket software showing internal structure and components, as well as the center of gravity and center of pressure on the airframe.
Simulated flight profile of the HV Arcas flying on a “H” engine from OpenRocket software showing a predicted apogee of 2,456 feet (~750 meters) for a flight lasting 129 seconds.
Links: Sod Blaster VI and OpenRocket software.
allows this finch to effortlessly pry open conifer seed cones. These chatty and colorful birds are fairly common in the woodlands of eastern Washington.
Adult male Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra).
That’s quite the underbite.
of certain bird feathers is governed by the angle of incidence of refracted light as it passes through the micro-structure of the feather barbules. The richness of the glow changes quickly and results in a shimmering effect often seen in hummingbirds. Here’s one at rest at the sugar reservoir giving me the evil eye.
Female or juvenile Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri).
southwest of Spokane, Washington, the Columbia Plateau State Park Trail extends for 130 miles (209 km) across the semi-arid Channeled Scablands. Some portion of this trail system is part of my daily ride, usually a section between Spokane and Amber Lake, at its very northeastern end.
Open ponderosa pine forests and seasonal wetland ponds dominate the flat-lying terrain that traverses the 1908 path of the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railroad.
A typical crowded day on the trail.
met for lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant last week. Emeritus Professor Ernest Gilmour (below left) was the chair of the department when I was hired as a fledgling assistant professor in the summer of 1984, a full 40 years ago, and he remains a good friend and valued colleague. We’re both retired from the university today, but he’s still doing active research in paleontology and publishing on bryozoans. It’s a scientific fact that fossilization is delayed if one stays active, both mentally and physically!
during an opportunistic bath in the sprinkler spray. It’s a poorly lit image but the behavior was fun to observe.
Soggy Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri).
is enjoyed by this hummingbird, from the high desert of Utah to the high country of Colorado, to the ponderosa pine forests of eastern Washington and beyond.
Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri), either a female or immature male.
is ready to fly, but with all the burn bans currently in effect in eastern Washington that’s not going to happen anytime soon. The HV Arcas model rocket will be used to obtain my Level 1 certification from the National Association of Rocketry at an event later this month. I’m leveling up to higher power rocketry. It’s important to pursue goals in retirement.
Link to Sod Blaster 2024 and the Level 1 Certification Process.
as an assist to a slowly moving turtle crossing the Fish Lake Trail this morning. Always happy to help my reptilian friends.
Painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) galloping across the trail.
at dinnertime.
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus).