• Friday-What'sUP May 5 - 11:13 am

We're all familiar with photos of the beautiful sunsets here in the Keweenaw, but Mark Rowe sent us a different kind of setting, as in the Moon and Venus setting over Lake Superior. Mark said this was taken off Cedar Bay and by the looks of it, those two objects were pretty bright that night, lighting a path across the water too. If you look just off to the right and down a bit from the moon, it looks like that might be part of the constellation Ursa Minor, the asterism otherwise known as the Little Dipper. Did you know that the Big and Little Dippers aren't really constellations on their own? They are what is known as an asterism, which is defined as a group of stars that form a pattern, making a part of, but not a complete constellation. Do you recognize any other asterisms or constellations in Mark's photo?

Good Morning!

Oops, wrong side!! (you can tell its Friday).

I can't believe how black it all looks. The reflection is unreal since its so smooth.

That is one gorgeous picture.

This picture reminds me of one of the many reasons I enjoy camping in the U.P., the night sky is vibrant. I often feel as though I could reach out and touch one. Most areas in lower Michigan have too much competition from other light sources.

Mary, I'm afraid your astronomy is a little off. The moon sets in the west, and the Little Dipper is almost overhead in the north. I don't know when Mark took this picture (not this month for sure), but those look like some winter stars to me.

Mary says: Actually this picture was taken just about a week ago. Here's a blow-up of what I was looking at being the Little Dipper...

Wow, that is gorgeous! For all the times I've been to the UP, I don't think I've ever stayed out much past sunset. Now I know what I've been missing. This summer I'll have to go down to the lake after dark. Thanks, Mark!

Just wait a few more months when the earth shifts somemore and the stars are really out. Makes me a little homesick. Thanks for sharing.

Great picture! I have spent many evenings down at this camp in particular (I went to school with Mark's son Jeremy). Makes me homesick, but flooded with great memories! It has been far too long since I have been home!

Nice picture Mark, I have been seeing this same scene but from the Laurium view. The past few nights have been spectacular!

Coooooooooool. My favorite sky watching spot is Brockway Mountain. On a warm clear summer night it is absolutely dazzling.

Great image. The oft confused asterism is the Pleides or the Seven Sisters (actually only six bright stars) in the constellation Taurus. This asterism is known in Japan as "Subaru" - check out the logo badge on a Subaru vehicle next time you see one.

Hello Mary:
As Bob pointed out, the image blow up you show looks like the Pleides. Both the Little Dipper (Ursa Minor) and Big Dipper (Ursa Major) should be more in the northern sky, not the west. You can actually use the "scoop" of the Big Dipper to locate the North Star.

Thats a great shot. We all think and interpet what we see in a picture differently. And if you use your imagination, its endless.
The area/water reflected in the horizon appears to be raised or drawn closer and closer towards the moon as it sets !

"Pleides?" a.k.a. Pleiades

Great way to start the day--in the night. I think both shots with the comparison and explanation are good.

The bright star that is also reflecting to the left of Venus and the moon is Aldebaran or "eye of the bull" (Taurus the Bull). If I did my homework correct, Mark took the image around 11PM on Thursday, April 19; am I right, Mark? To the upper right is part of Perseus. Great parting shot of a couple of familiar winter constellations. Made my morning!
PS: I misspelled Pleiades (left out the "a"), sorry.

How cool is that!!!!

I love looking at the stars....always have. When you think about the planets just floating around up there it is so amazing......space is so untouched by man.

Anyway you all have a beautiful weekend. Thank you for the great pictures....God Bless

Where were you today ole Blue?????

About skywatching in the dark of the northwoods: I vow to do it every time I go up there, but I'm always defeated by the skeetos.

I don't think I've ever seen a planet reflected in a lake before. Wow!

pretty neat picture.
The sky in the UP is awesome...especially in the winter..January..when its -10 no clouds..and no mosquitos :)

ther Arizona desert is another great place to look up...its wide open and you can see millions of stars

Watching the night sky is fun, especially in the spring, fall and winter months when the bugs are gone. Dress warmly, find a good viewing point with a flat spot and stretch out on your back and pick a star to focus on and just stare at that star without moving your eyes. After a bit the rods or cones or whatever part of your eye is getting light tires of firing signals to the brain and the whole sky goes dark. The first time this happens you'll move your eyes and it all comes back into focus. Be patient and return to the same place you started focusing. When you can hold still and the sky has gone all dark anything that moves will show up and be easy to see. Satellites, planes, meteorites and UFO's all will show up. It's fun and you don't need to feel self conscious about doing it 'cause its dark and no one can see you. I was laying in a blocked off road with my young sons in Arizona teaching them the trick when a park ranger enjoying the night sky walked along. We spoke to her, told her what we were doing and the next thing she was down on the road with us trying it out. She agreed it was a neat thing and was going to teach it to others before she left us still lying there.