• off the topic April 14 - 11:24 pm

There was talk earlier in the week about Lake Superior being big enough to hold the earth's population within it's boundaries. Josh Soumis gives us a "picture worth a thousand words" about the vastness of the Big Lake. With just the water, the sky and the moon in the frame, this gives you a good idea of the feeling when out at sea, no land in sight. It also brings to mind a question I've wondered about before. What makes the moon visible into the morning hours, such as in this picturesque view?

The sliver of land on the right suggests that we're looking east, not west, and it's in the evening.

Mary,

Your question about the moon.

The moon is full because the sun is on the opposite side of the earth from it, thus illuminating the entire disk.
Because the moon is opposite the sun it rises when the sun sets and sets when the sun rises.
If you go and look at aviewfromthefield.com there was a series of great pictures from last week where the moon was setting across Copper Harbor that show the sun coming up and brightening the shoreline.
The time of year when the equinoxes occur are the best to view because we have about 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness so the sun and moon are up the same amount of time during the full moon.

Mary,

Further, I went to aviewfromthefield.com and looked at the pictures from 4/5 to look at the moon set pictures.
MurphySurf

Off the subject-RE:Pat's Food Market in Houghton. In viewing the Mich Tec web cam, it looks like Pat's Food Market, located west of the campus, might not be in operation. I don't see many cars in the parking lot anymore. Am I correct in this assumption? Thank you.

actaullly no its not in the evening its in the morning cause the moon is that high right after the sun comes up ok

Great picture to start the day with. I would venture to say the ship was the ARMCO of the Oglebay Norton line. The shipping season is well under way now and it looks like most of the freighters will be sailing this year as the demand for steel has increased.

more moon shots please--thanks

This is my 'ikkuna' (window) to see the greatly missed UP. Please don't change anything about your guest gallery.

PSmitSC.......I think you mean Jim's Foodmart and yes, it is still open.

What a wonderful, gentle photo. One of the best I have seen in a long time.

I can remember as a child traveling to Duluth and Superior with my Mother and her best friend to pick up her friend's husband from the docks there after the season had ended. He always took me on a tour of the ship. I remember the first time I went down into the engine room, it truly seemed so enormous. One of those childhood memories I will never forget...

If you're new to the Pasty Cam, we welcome you to post messages related to the daily picture. This is a site about the beauty, history and culture of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Inflammatory comments are not welcome, and personal attacks will not be tolerated.

We ask for everyone to respect the intention of this site to be a cordial, friendly place to have a regular, daily contact with the U.P. A number of unrelated posts today were moved to a secondary page, in case you don't see some of the comments which were here earlier.

The photographers who contribute to this site have dedicated their skill, time, and resources to share something of beauty with us, and we want to honor their efforts.

Great photo today, Joshua.

I do indeed see that you have addressed the issue I brought up rather than push it aside. I only wanted to bring to light my views of what I thought was an improper use of the pasty gallery. I am sorry for disrupting the message page, and in the furure will direct my views directly to you via your e-mail. My sincerest apologies and yes this is a great photo.

Dave, Laurium pick up a copy of END OF AN ERA by PLowden ($50.00 book) in a local library..Excellent b/w photos of the old steamships you speak of that once sailed on the lakes till the 70's. I believe they all now have diesel engines or such and the beauty of the old up & down steam engines has past us by in the name of economics.

Thank you Charley...well said

I agree with db, more moon photos, sunrises and sunsets. PLEASE. Neat picture.
Down Stater

This picture makes me almost literally sick that I am here and not there. What memories. This needs to be a WOW in my opinion, and on the next calendar. It's just beautiful.

Just to clear up the confusion, this photo was taken in the evening. I was amazed myself when I took this photo. (Josh Soumis)

where's my message I just posted?

I think that is the Armco that sails under the Columbia Steamship Company. I had the opportunity to shipkeep on it with my dad, mother & sister many years ago. It is a self unloader and has been around for many years now. It is a beautiful picture and so serene looking. Keep up the good work. Sorry about my last post, was my mistake.

Josh, Very nice picture. Tons of people have been commenting on this pic. This is a framer for sure!!!

Thanks Charlie!

Josh, thanks or another beautiful scene!! Just love it.

Good to see the Steamer Armco out again. She was in lay-up most of last season due to a lack of cargo. She is one of the best looking lakers around!

Great picture today! And even better is that the conversation has returned to being sane! Thanks, Charlie, for reminding everybody of the purpose of this wonderful site. Yesterday was rough! I couldn't even get myself to post about that beautiful picture of the doves, the conversation was just too brutal to get in the middle of.

Great shot. I'm sorry about my offensive behavior yesterday. I hope everyone has a great day!

Jason:
Great shot! It looks like you were somewhere along Lakeshore Drive south of the mouth of the Dead River... by the way are the smelt running yet? I suppose it is a bit early, but mmm they are soooo tasty!

Eddie,

There are two steamers still sailing the lakes, the Badger and the Southdown Challenger. Here's a link to the Challenger page on boatnerd:

http://www.boatnerd.com/pictures/fleet/challenger.htm

Also if you go to the main boatnerd page and click on the News Channel link, the first story for 4/12 is about the Southdown Challenger fitting out for the upcoming season.

To Mary and anyone else willing to attempt this: You too can get a photo of the moon (full disk) in the morning. On May 4, the moon will be full and will set at 4:15am. You need to be out there earlier than this time! Look WEST!! The sun will rise at 4:26am but you should still be able to see the moon at about 4am or before, with some light from the rising sun to set your background and illuminate your subject fully. If you have access to a whirly-bird or other aircraft (Skyview Pix guy?) you could get something really stunning!! I'm counting on you!! Good luck! On the side, I can't believe someone saw this photo and blasphemy occurred. That's really weird!

VERY NICE PHOTO ALSO WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE COMMENTS OF YESTERDAY ONE WOULD HOPE CENSURESHIP IS NOT CREEPING ONTO THIS NICE SITE TO RD IN IOWA I AM SURE YOU ARE NOT THE FIRST ADMENMENT TO THE CONSTITUION ECT.

Editor's note: Comments unrelated to the days picture have been moved to a subtopic titled: off the topic.

TO THE GAL IN CHESNING DO YOU KNOW ANY OF THE MAHONYS MY GRANDPARENTS ARE FROM THERE THANKS

Many of the great lakes freighters still run on steam; although they are no longer coal fired [coal has been replaced by oil] they still run on steam. All of the newer freighters are diesel.

To Walter P Tampa....Yes I know several of the Mahonys here. Which are you related to? I write for the Owosso Argus-Press so seem to know a lot of folks from the home of the Chesaning Showboat!!!! Wayne Newton is among the headliners this year. Also Bobby Rydell, Fabian and Frankie Avalon along with Sawyer Brown. Fun time!

Nuff said Charlie, most of the former people from the CC the pics bring back many memories, all good I may add keep up the good work. We love you all. For the negative comments they are just jelous deal with them accordingly, U have my support.

MY GRANFATHER WAS SIMON PETER MAHONEY HE MARRIED MARY FRANCIS SMITH HER FATHER FOUGHT IN THE CIVIL WAR ANYWAY MY GRANDFATHER HAD EIGHT OR NINE BROTHERS AND TWO OR THREE SISTERS AND MY MOTHER MARGARET ROSE MAHONY STILL HAS A COUSIN MARY MAHONY I BELIEVE RUPPE IS THE LAST NAME THERE ARE MANY MANY DESENDENTS IN THE CHESNING AND ST CHARLES AREA SHE HAD AN UNCLE SHE CALLED UNCLE BUNNY WE USED TO GO TO CHESNING TO VISIT WHEN IWAS A KID I HAVE MUCH FURTHER INFORMATION AT HOME IF YOU NEED MORE DATA

Wasn't the Southdown (Medusa) Challenger, the ship that was known for getting draw bridges stuck, or otherwise having/making trouble negotiating the Chicago River? Anybody know the story?

Thanks PastyCam for keeping the combative posts as a subtopic as they can be quite entertaining. If thats all we can think of to fight over then we truly live in a Blessed land.

What great shot! One of the majestic beauties of the U.P.

GREAT PHOTO DO YOU HAVE ANY CLOSE UPS

Hey..Josh :)
great pic..is this the one you told me about ?
Another Soumis is Wisconsin

That is a beautiful shot of the Armco. It brings me back to my days working on the boats, that I sometimes miss living far off the Lakes in Vermont (also a beautiful place). Anyway it's a nice prelude to my visit back to the U.P. with my kids next week. We'll pass through Marquette and stop at Presque Isle harbor to see 'who's' in as always. Then on to Houghton where I grew up. Thanks for the shot.

That's my boy! Way to go Josh, but aren't you supposed to be studying at NMU instead of out gazing around at the sky?? Great pic Josh!!

I posted a message the other day to Alex Tiensevu who lives in Georgia. I grew up in Gay and I believe his grandparents lived in the back of us. Their cows provided the townspeople with a lot of milk...sounds like I lived in the dark ages, but not really! Butch, their son, lived with them at the time.

To Walter P...please email me. The story of your family sounds like it would be an interesting subject for the historical society newspaper. Thanks!

By Kathi, Ferndale on Thursday, April 15, 2004 - 04:05 am:

The 20:44 Bridge Cam picture is gorgeous. The water looks like glass. What a reflection!

WOW Josh!! That's beautiful!! You have an eye for taking pictures. Thanks for sharing it with us. Auntie L. in Montague.

I've found my new screen background, to replace the shore snow scene. Boy, am I homesick. -- Mary

Wow i'll have to be looking into these pictures more again. I haven't been to the site for quite sometime and this picture was the first i stopped to look at because it fully caught my attention. and hey..can you believe this...i'm also a soumis in wisconsin lol. seems we are slowly spreading our wings abit... out of Chassell. Although Chassell will always be home! Keep up with the photos!!! Very well done!