Night sky naturism

[Kayaker]

I wasn't sure where to post info and questions related to night sky viewing and astronomy in the buff, so I'm starting a new thread.  It can be moved if there's a better location to imbed into.

Is anyone else tracking the two comets coming to near earth orbit this week? 

One of my favorite things is sky watching, and on our property we get awesome dark sky until the dew starts and fog builds about midnight.  It clears off about 4am for another good round as long as the moon is in the dark phase.  We are fortunate to be able to watch au naturale in what's marketed as "zero gravity chairs " which are basically  reclining lawn chairs( they aren't all fully reclining though).  I remember JBEE posting a nice trip excursion to night pools and pictures of the stars in the water.

I bet the desert dwellers here have awesome sky... Will you be watching?  I understand the trails may produce a meteor shower around the 28th.

[JOhnGw]

I was't aware of them - thanks for the info.

[jbeegoode]

There are still dark skies and a Milky Way at my place. We watch star events, but evenings are usually cold to stand around in nude half of the year. The temp drops 30 and 40 degrees F at night, but the sky stays very clear. The biggest treat is wandering in the desert mountains nude under the full moon light. It is like daylight, black and white TV. The cool and warm air pockets and flows are more evident when the cooler air falls off of the mountain. It is quiet and smells...like night.
Jbee

[Davie]

If you want to find the best places to look up to the heavens there's a "dark sky" google earth kmz file which unfortunatly is too large to attach but a little gooling will find it for you

Davie 

[nuduke]

My understanding was that the comets would not be visible to naked eye and only just discernible in binoculars.  My binocs are medium-powerful but keeping them still and starfinding is hard when the target is not sightable by eye.  So, I was going to give these chaps a miss although if there are meteor showers as their tail sweeps through earth orbit, I'll be out looking! 

I often stargaze naked, late at night when all is quiet.  It's a very good way to get in a little more naturism than maybe the day would otherwise permit.  I'm looking forward to the summer as my new residence affords much greater garden nudity opportunity than former days and having some decent temperatures would be a boon.  My skywatching naked is generally brief due to the cold.  However, I do like very cold nights at -1°C or less, with low humidity as I love the crisp, 'crackly' cold of such occasions revitalising my skin and revivifying my spirit.

30 seconds is all I do on a not-so-cold, damp night.  The cold is profounder and least tolerable.  My weather station this evening reads such pessimism with temperature of 9.1°C, wind speed 5.4 Km/hr, damp from rain earlier and humidity of 82%.  Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!

John

[Kayaker]

Well the comets were challenged by clouds and a bright full moon in our viewing area.  The first would have been a brighter green smudge in the sky for those down under.  It was moving fast enough that you could trace it if in the Southern Hemisphere.  Is anyone here from Australia?  It would be good to hear a report of visibility.

The debris field may host some fireballs starting the 28th for a few nights.

That Google app is not bad.  I also saw that  NOAA recently updated their links to night sky preserves with some very cool pics of the Milky Way.   Moon phases not in prime viewing conditions unfortunately. 

Also watching solar flare activity.  What awesome energy, it's mesmerizing. 

[Kayaker]

While on the subject I was just remembering a week or so past we had several cool crisp nights, perfectly clear and low humidity.  We don't get those often in spring.  a few cold fronts have pushed through making it quite chilly and dark clear for night sky.   We spent hours in the pools in the nest spa environment and by a wonderful crackling fire for hot/cold evaporative effect on your skin.  So exhiliarating!   I was staying up late listening to this radio astronomy link watching the deep black night and punched out by star holes, with sparks from the fire stirred upwards every few minutes by night wind.  It was a very ancient feeling, listening to deep space while at the same time experiencing the wind, and the heat and sound and smell of the fire.  Reminded me of the outback fire scenes in Apollo 13 where the sparks are blown up to space.  It was a very special and poignant evening.  The wind was almost sentient like it was speaking in conversation with the other elements.  I was just in awe of the combined effects.  Very peaceful but attentive and alert at the same time.  Whoosh from the wind in the high boughs of the trees, stirred branches against a black night sky, coyotes calling out quite nearby, crackling heat from fire to take the edge off the chill.  It will be a special memory.

[nudewalker]

As a collection of specks of dust which we call a body it is remarkable to see the night sky without having the light pollution from the cities. Viewing this and realizing the size of the universe that we see is only a very small portion of the vastness of space it puts ourselves in a rather insignificant position. And mankind continues to fight over wealth, resources and religion? My rant for this morning; for those of the Christian faith, have a blessed Easter!

[eyesup]

I wasn't sure where to post info and questions related to night sky viewing and astronomy in the buff . . .

Right here!

Thanks for the heads up, Lisa. I'll check on the positions to see if they are visible here.

I haven't had much opportunity to do astronomy in the buff recently. I requires we hie off to points remote. Most major cities have light pollution, we have it, on steroids. I have been as far as 120 miles from Las Vegas and still seen the light pollution in the south.

Also watching solar flare activity.  What awesome energy, it's mesmerizing.

For some eye popping close up pictures of our nearest star see this NASA web site. I spent some time a few years back scrolling through their gallery on the TRACE mission. A precursor to SDO (Solar Dynamics Observatory). I saw pictures of an alien landscape. Yes, the sun has a landscape.

We seldom think of the sun as a solid "body". It's an enormous ball of "painful light" that can comfort as well as injure you. We know it's made of gas. In the photos you see a roiling, bubbling surface where some pictures show detail that is, as Lisa says, "mesmerizing".

I have a solar filter that shows spots but not the flares. Those filters are a bit more expensive. We are contemplating a road trip soon up the center of the state. A "less traveled road" that offers better dark and secluded sites for, shall we say, enhanced viewing experiences. Hopefully before it gets too hot.

eyesup

[eyesup]

Located an archive of some of the TRACE photos.  See here

Enjoy!

[nuduke]

It was a very ancient feeling, listening to deep space while at the same time experiencing the wind, and the heat and sound and smell of the fire

What an amazing evening, Lisa.  Sensing our connection to the primal in this way must have been awesome!
John

[nuduke]

Awesome links, Duane

I've often read articles and whatnot on the sun and seen many pics like this over the years.  However, looking at the ever changing structure of this burning gas ball is, like looking into the camp fire, mesmeric.

John

[jbeegoode]

Ditto, awesome links, Duane. That just changed my perception of that being totally and forever.

Nice description there Lisa. We'll be doing fire in the middle of nowhere, dark skies, little moon this coming week.
Jbee

[Kayaker]

Right here!

Oh! Yeah... Thank you! (Hands temporary blonde wig to tan-fugettaboutit-man)


For some eye popping close up pictures of our nearest star see this NASA web site. I spent some time a few years back scrolling through their gallery on the TRACE mission. A precursor to SDO (Solar Dynamics Observatory).

eyesup
[/quote]

OH MY GOSH Duane... That's the COOLEST eye candy for a space geek ever.. WOW! And with a new bionic eye in UV capability it's just particularly fantastic.  The colors!!!  I especially like the Aqua X flare but then it's just hard to pick a favorite.  There's so many!  Thank you so much for sharing!  This went straight to my home screen as a favorite icon.   Ooooooo!  ( picture drumming of fingers together and large toothy grin a la Wallace and Grommit.)

[Kayaker]

It was a very ancient feeling, listening to deep space while at the same time experiencing the wind, and the heat and sound and smell of the fire

What an amazing evening, Lisa.  Sensing our connection to the primal in this way must have been awesome!
John

Isn't it just awesome to "be" in these micro eternal moments John?  In all of our reports I see this common theme of connectivity to the earth spaces and sky, and weather...and animals, and sense of timelessness, and need for refreshment in spirit by getting back to nature naturally.  It's just in our design.  How blessed we are to be able to respond to the littlest nuances of change in our respective environments, to be able to see what most never know exists.  You have to take time, be still, be attentive, be receptive, be respectful.