I like a Rainy Day

Today was a rainy day in Los Angeles. A fairly rare event for April. We are about to have our 8-10 month lack of rain (not a drought, because it is normal), so it every day of rain is nice.

In fact, I think that no Southern California resident should ever complain about rain. We really don’t get that much. And any day of rain provides the wonderful background noise, clean air, rushing storm drains (remember this is LA — no streams), and the onrush of green. With this late season rain, we can expect great desert wild flowers, green hillsides, and a fire season that doesn’t bother us until Fall.

I have always loved inclement weather. Thunder storms watched on the porch in Washington, DC. Hot and muggy, with sudden cool blasts of wind and big booms of thunder. The UP, with the roar of the lake, cold, cold, cold days, snow flocking the forest, and big thunderstorms.

LA weather is tame.

So I love each weather event. The best thing to read is the forecast discussion. This is a write-up prepared by all National Weather Service offices explaining how they developed the forecast. You could be the local forecaster using this content alone. Reading how they develop the forecast with input from computer models, satellite, and radar makes one understand the upcoming weather much better. And I truly enjoy reading the results of their analysis.

What is probably the last major storm over our area this season is passing overhead. I hear the rain in the background. Murphy’s law says we’ll have another minor rain this weekend, just enough to postpone the star party.

Satellite Passes

After having not looked at Heavens Above for several months, I looked tonight. Heavens Above is a free service that will tell you what satellites will be passing overhead on any given evening for any given location.

After looking at the Iridium Flare listing (none here in Los Angeles until 18-Mar), I looked at the ISS listing. The pass here tonight was at 7:24pm and I looked at the page at 7:23pm. I ran outside and, exactly in the position predicted, I could see the steady movement of a bright star — the ISS. I called for my daughter and wife and they came out and saw it too.

It was a lot of fun to see. And great to see on such a moments notice.

Iridium flares are very cool too. A bright flash in the sky that looks like a UFO. The first time I saw one, I had no idea what I was seeing. Just a point of light suddenly getting very bright and then disappearing. But it is just a satellite with a very reflective antenna.

Heavens Above requires registration, but delivers no spam. I highly encourage its use.

First Quarter Moon

The first and last quarter moon. It looks like half, why is it called a quarter?

The reason is that he percentage is named in the context of the complete cycle of the moon. New moon is zero. First quarter is 25%. Full is 50% (that’s the key). And last quarter is 75%.

The terminology of of “first quarter” and “last quarter” are in terms of the entire lunar cycle.

I’ve Always Liked So Cal Weather

I am not one to complain about weather. I like “bad” weather. Rain, wind, snow (not here of cours, but it is welcome), whatever. Interesting weather is fun. But when now since December 15 we have had continuous at best high clouds weather, I am getting exasperated. If it was raining, I’d be happy, but it is dry and it is mostly clear, but these damn high clouds are preventing any imaging!

So much for my whining. Here it was 78 degrees today and I am whining about the weather. I should not complain too much. I did get some nice first quarter moon shots.

First quarter moon is a good subject. Next post.

The First Post

Welcome to the Observatorio de la Ballona weblog. This is the first post. It may be the last.

Tonight, like last night, turned clear after it was cloudy. It was really cloudy at 6:30 tonight. I went out at 9:15, and it was clear. If I had known, I would have opened the observatory and got some imaging in. And this is a night when I don’t have to get up until 7am the next day. These won’t last long. And yes, it is too late at 9:30 to start when I have to be conscious tomorrow AM.