Rx burns start - another end-of-season indicator (DIAL-UP WARNING)

[DemoTex]

A big prescription burn ("Rx Burn") started a couple of days ago in the Fremont NF. They will probably start Rx Burns in the Deschutes this week or next.

Also, a moonset shot from last night (9-11). The previous night's shots were better, IMO. And Nick gets aced by a Golden Mantle Ground Squirrel.

Enjoy!


A big Rx Burn way down south in the Fremont NF late yesterday evening. That is Cougar Mountain in the center, then Christmas Valley. and then the Connelly Mountains.


Last night's (9-11-2010) Moon/Venus setting event over Mount Thielsen (the pointy peak) in the Oregon Cascade Range


Nick! Oh, Nick! Over here! Oh, sailor!


It's Earl the Squirrel (or his girl, Pearl)!!!


Earl! Pearl! I only want to play!


Come on, guys. Let's play!

[Catshrink]

1. Awesome, as usual.

It's great to see Nick having some fun!

[A HERETIC I AM]

2. Have you ever spotted any rattlers near the tower?

Or is it already so chilly that they are fairly dormant? Or are there none in that area at all?

Seeing Nick poke his nose under that rock made me think of that. Just curious.

I am pretty sure I have found your tower on Wikimapia/Google Earth, and I am sorry if I was out of line by putting that link on your thread the other day.

[DemoTex]

5. No snakes at all up here - thank goodness!

Nick would be a dead dog if there were rattlers up here. The firefighters tell me they seldom see snakes on the forest floor. Ireland west?

I don't remember any link that was inappropriate. PM it to me again. And I have often posted the location of my tower - it is a US Government facility (N 43 40' 1.5" W 120 59' 44.7"). Anybody that wants to git me has to git by Nick (AKA "Fang") first.

[A HERETIC I AM]

6. PM sent. n/t

[murielm99]

3. Those are beautiful pictures, as usual.

Nick is funny. Would he really just play? My dog plays with cats, but I think she would kill ground squirrels.

[DemoTex]

7. Nick ain't just play.

I have a video from a few of weeks back of him coming out from under the rocks with a juvenile ground squirrel in is mouth. But I think Earl & Pearl, and all their little squirrels, win about 99% of the time. And they really DO taunt Nick!

[hootinholler]

4. Glad you're wet enough for the burns.

What a great job. Love the squirrel's names too.

We should start a jerky bomb for nick ;)

-Hoot

[shireen]

8. awesome photos! And an interesting observation about Venus ...

If you look at that image of Venus, it's not roundish. The camera is steady because the mountain silhouette and moon look sharp. That elongated shape is real. So i checked the current phase of Venus at http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/data-services/diskmap
Select the "object" and the date, then click "make image" ...

Venus is currently less than half phase. The slight over-exposure of the side that's lit up and the small size of the object makes it look elliptical in the photo.

Hey! That Nick is a cool little fella!


Here's some figures from the US Naval Observatory:

Venus phase:


And here's what's posted at http://earthsky.org/tonight

[DemoTex]

9. THANKS! Great info!

I never though about planetary phases. Makes sense. I have 28 more days here - ie, another moon cycle, so I'll be posting more moon photos (full moon rising in less than two weeks, etc). Comments are encourgaged.

Also, I'll be doing some non-specific bulb-exposure night sky shots from the ground when the moon is dark. Those will probably be done with a 16-35mm f2.8 ultra wide-angle lens.

[Hekate]

11. Thank you for the info. I always attribute odd shapes to my residual astigmatism

... and the residual myopia from my LASIK. Despite that, I have always loved looking at the night sky and trying to pick things out. These photos are the greatest.

Hekate

[Hekate]

10. Awesome -- and Nick is a sweetie.

:hi: