• Wednesday-What'sUP March 21 - 07:38 pm

If you've been out at night lately in the U.P., I'm sure you've noticed the clear skies we've been experiencing, along with a myriad of stars, some constellations and several planets shining brightly. For those of you that haven't had a chance to see those nighttime skies in person, Mike Schneider has shared a few of them with us here today.

We start out with one that has the sky bursting with stars and according to Mike, right about the middle of this photo, you can see the constellation, Orion's Belt. I'll have to take his word for it, since all I know about stars and constellations, begins and ends with the Big Dipper. :->

His next photo shows the planets, Jupiter and Venus, glowing so brightly over the city of Marquette, that I first thought it was the moon in the distance. Mike did some checking and says if his research is correct, the small group of stars near the top of the photo, is the Pleiades Cluster.

Mike's last photo he dubbed himself, as, "Presque Isle in da moonlight". Hard to believe it was taken only 9 short days ago and the water was still frozen over, with the moonlight reflecting of the ice. I'm guessing after experiencing the 75° plus days we've been having, that ice has melted away for the most part, now. But it was too nice a shot to not include here today. Hope you enjoyed our night sky tour with Mike!

Awesome pictures today!

Very nice! I'll bet Presque Isle has been hopping this week.

WOW!! What a sight to wake up to!! Thanks for sharing these wonderful pictures!

Mike you truly have an eye for wonderful photos. And thanks for sharing them with us. I love sitting outside a night. Being an avid sky watcher I realise how much goes on that most folks are unaware of. A changing wonder right above our heads. Thanks for capturing theses for us.

Another daily wonder most folks don't note in their daily activities is the early morning symphony the many birds perform each day.They may be luring their lady friends but we benefit from their music. I wish more people would take the time to soak in the world around us. It's free for the appreciation.

Kay, I also enjoy the choir of birds! I keep my feeder going all year to keep them singing for their supper.

As usual great photos to wake up to on Pasty Central. It is hard to believe that my neighbor is out cutting his grass for the second time this year on March 21.

The three stars just above the right end of the shadowy "bar" structure in the first photo are Orion's belt, the two brighter stars above them mark his shoulders, and several others define his legs, sword and arms.
Great photos!

Presque Isle in da moonlight, been there many times at that hour howling back in da days at good ol NMU. Wouldn't mind sitting there for lunch today with a #8 from Togo's, chips and a diet vernor's, with a little Marshall Tucker or John Prine on the CD, looking at the greatest body of water in the world! Care to join me? I'm buyin, lol... Have a great day all, 80's again here in Commerce TWP.

what stellar beauty....wow....And I'm with you Mary....The Big Dipper is my knowledge base!! LOL...

Although, way back when, on a Christmas Day, a very dear friend gifted me with a star named for me, from the International Star Registry...so, someplace out there is "Lady Mac"....pretty cool....and one of the MOST fabulous gifts ever!

http://www.starregistry.com/

Great sky photos today, thank you. I especially love the starry night one, the first one, as that is something we almost never get to see around here. :-)

I'm there UC!!!!

Are we meetin' at Togo's or the breakwater?

Great photo's Mike!

UC...I'm in, I'll take a large #16 and a coke!

How 'bout meeting at Uncle Chucks this week end if the weather holds? Alex, you up to that? The Wing is running?

No Wing yet Rowdy, not till after tax season is over. No time :-(

Sorry guys, I'll be traveling for my job.

UC

Thank You for all the comments...although now I'm hungry for Togo's...LOL

Starry, starry night.

Oh my, Thomas, wish you hadn't posted that...now that song will stay in my mind the rest of the evening. :>

I presume you mean the opening words to Vincent by Don Maclean.

Van Gogh's "Starry Night" is gorgeous, but it can't compare with
God's! Wonderful photos.

Yep, Thomas, that's the one. Pretty song but it's one of those kind that won't let you go.:)
I agree with you, Kosk! He's the Master Painter!

I've been watching Venus and Jupiter come closer and closer together for a few weeks. Now they're getting further apart. You don't get to see them that close hardly ever. Venus is SO bright! Venus is our neighbor toward the sun and Jupiter is two planets further out. I have a small Newtonian reflector telescope. It's fun to see how Jupiter's 4 largest moons orbit the planet. Brings to mind the words of one of my favorite hymns: "My Father is Omnipotent, and that you can't deny; He is a God of miracles, 'tis written on the sky." Amen.

Hey, Uncle Chuck, I can bring the John Prine CD.

Is that last picture really of the moon? It looks to me more like the sun -- either a sunrise or a sunset. By the time a full moon rises in the east, especially in winter like that, the sky is already pitch-dark, and it usually sets again well before dawn. That sky looks too light to coincide with a full moon rise or set.

Mary says: Lisa R.(Sisugirl)~Yes, the last picture IS really of the moon. This is a direct quote from the photographer, Mike Schneider, that he posted with this photo: "Last night was a beautiful night for a walk...couldn't see the northern lights but the moon rose over Lake Superior and the stars were out. Might name this photo Presque Isle in da Moon Light."
Settings on his camera may have lightened up the sky like that. Hope that convinces you...

UC -

John Prine "Ain't Hurtin' Nobody" from Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings CD.

Yep, I'm there.

I can bring the Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings CD.
But I was thinking about the Live on Tour CD. I love the live version of "Lake Marie"