January 17
Four days of rain left us flooded and soggy, but the predicted snow fell only briefly before sunset. The night sky showed brilliant stars, to those who braved the cold.
I never tire of viewing the constellations of winter, and of writing about their brilliance, though I may tire those who take the time to read my words. Winter skies have more first magnitude stars than those of any season and the sight often startles me. I marvel to think they are still here and that I am here to watch them.
The three bright stars of Orion’s belt point upward to the Hyades, the V which forms the face of Taurus. From there, the line extends to Pleiedes, the seven sisters, also part of Taurus and not an official constellation in their own right.
The same line of three stars in Orion’s belt point downward to Sirius, the brightest of all stars and anchor of Canis Major, the great dog. Canis Minor, the small dog, is of to the side of the line with its bright star Procyon, whose name is also given, in scientific terminology, to Raccoons. Procyn literally means, “before the dog.”
Hunter and his hounds
Obscured by winter clouds
Taurus then appears
Four days of rain left us flooded and soggy, but the predicted snow fell only briefly before sunset. The night sky showed brilliant stars, to those who braved the cold.
I never tire of viewing the constellations of winter, and of writing about their brilliance, though I may tire those who take the time to read my words. Winter skies have more first magnitude stars than those of any season and the sight often startles me. I marvel to think they are still here and that I am here to watch them.
The three bright stars of Orion’s belt point upward to the Hyades, the V which forms the face of Taurus. From there, the line extends to Pleiedes, the seven sisters, also part of Taurus and not an official constellation in their own right.
The same line of three stars in Orion’s belt point downward to Sirius, the brightest of all stars and anchor of Canis Major, the great dog. Canis Minor, the small dog, is of to the side of the line with its bright star Procyon, whose name is also given, in scientific terminology, to Raccoons. Procyn literally means, “before the dog.”
Hunter and his hounds
Obscured by winter clouds
Taurus then appears
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