Tag snow

Snow, sunshine, and a nuthatch

Photonstopper Leave a comment
First Winter: Stella-Luna with a coating of snow, some of which is sloughing off, closed up and waiting for the occasional day or night with clear skies.

With overcast skies, overnight temperatures of about 9°F, and five-plus inches of snowfall over the past 48 hours, we’re pretty much buttoned down. Of course, changeable as weather is, they’re forecasting sunshine tomorrow, and 47° with rain by Thursday! Yeah, you saw “sunshine” mentioned but we have a healthy level of doubt where clear skies lately are concerned. In the meantime, there is snow to shovel and birds to watch… Oh! That’s a red-bellied nuthatch!

Observatory interior showing the telescope mount without telescope, the instruments having been stowed awaiting better sky conditions. After some test runs we’re still deciding on which scope might be designated as the “permanent” observatory instrument; some shopping is also happening.

First snow

Photonstopper
The observatory, with a dusting of snow on its dome, sits with a background of snow-encrusted trees. Lake effect snowfall resumed after this photo was made.

The first snow of the season arrived overnight producing, for the observatory, a beautiful daytime scene. Ground heat cleared the pavers around the structure but continued cold weather will change that — we’ll likely have to start shoveling soon. Several days of snow chances lie ahead with clear skies are expected during the day on Thursday, November 13.