Lucky me. When it is nighttime and dark outside, I can see the Big Dipper from my high bathroom window, as well as many other stars blinking away for my amusement. (I live in a house-to-house neighborhood, with a street light that automatically turns its-self on at night, at my curb.)

That's great, pollythinks!

I haven't ever really looked for the Big Dipper. No reason, really, just that when I'm outside looking up at the sky, I'm usually looking at the Moon, or at the aircraft criss-crossing overhead.

I will see if I can find the Big Dipper next time I have the chance.

Ya gotta be able to find The Big Dipper so that it can point you to the temporary North Star, Polaris.

In 13,000 years it’ll be Vega doing it’s best to function as The North Star, helping night time travelers (in the northern hemisphere) to get oriented.

In the eastern sky you can see Orion’s Belt. I never noticed it until last year at this time.
I haven’t even noticed the Big Dipper or other stars because Orion’s Belt is so sharp and clear.

I always look to see where Orion is whenever I go out at night. The belt and sword draw my eye.

I love the dippers and seven sisters too.

I've always wanted to see the Southern Cross constellation but I'll never get the opportunity. I don't see traveling anywhere in the southern hemisphere in my future.

I've been fascinated imagining the earliest humans trying to explain the stars using stories. I've been lucky to live much of my life on the outskirts of cities where it was dark enough to admire the sky.

It would be cool to see favorite constellations outside a window.

I lived south of the equator for two years, and have been back twice as a tourist. It never crossed my mind to look for the Southern Cross. There was usually too much city light, but not always.

Now I’m embarrassed at my own cluelessness. How did that happen?

Brother Of Jerry Wrote:
-------------------------------
>
> Now I’m embarrassed at my own
> cluelessness. How did that happen?


It's likely that you're not a Crosby, Stills & Nash fan...


https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=IHL-6cUtZj0&list=RDAMVMIHL-6cUtZj0

Exactly. I love that song. I love the beauty of the sky.

that is not a "sword" dagny ~

I know, ziller. That's one reason why it's my favorite.

My grandma taught me to find lots of different constellations in both the summer and winter skies. (Orion was "on" during the school year. Scorpio was "on" for the summer. I will never forget that.)

I can't ever look up at the night sky without remembering my sweet and brilliant grandma.

I live out in BFE and It's really dark here so I can see the milky way.

Didn't have dippers when I grew up only ladles. We did see the Plough though.

I might have believed at one time that the constellations actually existed on the same astronomical 'plane'.

but, I still believe that:

- the Earth is flat

- the sun revolves around the earth.

- gravity is nothing more than a conspiracy that will be outed soon!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/11/2021 06:40PM by GNPE.

I live in western Wyoming just south of Jackson Hole. Not a lot of light pollution where I li e so the star gazing is quite good in our yard.

The man in the moon as he sails the skies
Is a most remarkable skipper
But he made a mistake when he tried to take
A drink of milk from his dipper.

He dipped right into the milky way
And he slowly and carefully filled it
But the big bear growled
And the little bear howled
And frightened him so that he spilled it!


A primary classic if ever there was one!

It was a cold night with no cars on the road. My buddies and I pulled off in what felt like the middle of nowhere and got out of the car. The world around was dead quiet, and the skies were enormous. So so many stars filled the night. It’s easily one of the most awesome sights I’ve ever seen.

Tyson

I always look out for the Big Dipper whenever I'm in the northern hemisphere. It brings me very fond memories. I had never bothered to look for it here in Brazil, though, since I thought it would be impossible to see. But last winter I thought I saw some of its stars, and decided to photograph it. With a little post-processing in Lightroom, there it was! All of it, beautifully and just barely hanging above the horizon, seen from my very window! I will treasure this picture forever.

Very cool!

dagny Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Very cool!

I agree!

That's one of the things that's memorable about the southern hemisphere, at least to us northerners: the night sky looks very different. It's both unnerving and beautiful.

Living on the prairie in farming area near the US/Canadian border and no towns close we see night sky phenomena most nights it isn't too cloudy.
Aurora displays to meteor showers to the magic carpet of stars above are always a treat.
Air pollution is not part of our lives except for dust from farming at times, haze from humidity and the every now and then forest fire smoke that comes to use from further West and Canada.

Nothing quite like laying in bed watching night skies through a skylight or the windows. All while listening to the singing of Coyotes and the hooting of the owls.