Grow Your Own Magazine

Having lived for most of my life in East London, light pollution was just part of the confused environment.

I don't have that here. My village has three street lights which are about 2 candle watt strong and they're a mile away.

I've just been out to the car and the sky if clear except for stars, wonderful sight, all the different intensities of light, is just breathtaking. Last year I could clearly see the Milky Way - no smarty panties, not the choc bar! - and that was a first for me.

Down side is that's it's going to be cold tonight so made sure that the little seed trays are all snug, simple life and pleasures can sometimes be the best.

__________________
TonyF, Dordogne 24220

Tony

A few years ago I was taking a friend home and the place she was staying had a guy with a telescope. He asked if I wanted to see Saturn, and I laughed thinking it would be impossible with fairly average kit. But no, there it was.

If you haven't got a telescope I advise you to get one - just for the sheer joy of seeing Saturn's rings.

__________________
it's written in the wind that we're two, carved out in the sand that we're real,
it's lit up in the stars that we're true, we're destined in the sky to be glad
Paul Weller
http://johntygreentoes.blogspot.com/

Guys, I get what you're saying, but it's not unusual for you and me...
Trousers and I live in amongst the trees in The Forest of Dean, and whilst there's a street light on the corner of the woodland outside our property, you'd be blessed to see the post it was attached to, let alone anything else!
The night sky is what you get and what you see outside. Nothing else..... but we never take it for granted....

__________________
With Love,
Wellie

Give it some....

http://hollycottagegarden.blogspot.com
BLOG UPDATED Sunday 2nd November at 19.30hrs

I just love looking into the night sky and seeing the stars.....Ive just bought myself one of those "I Spy" books - do you remember them? ie. a childrens guide to the stars in the sky - just my level methinks! DDL

__________________
Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

I'm always amazed by how bright the moon shines. Its like an alternate world when there's a full-moon....almost alien.

__________________
Manda.

"Wouldn't it be nice
For maybe an hour
To not have a care."

I was lucky to have been brought up in Cornwall; the night sky was always clear and bright and we regularly saw the Milky Way. Having lived in London and now the Midlands I hate the light pollution we are subject to.
a few years ago I lived on the Wolds, up on a hill, and still all I could see were the lights of Nottingham, Derby and Leicester. So depressing.

__________________
Regards, Jane
What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy? The creative adult is the child who has survived.
Ursula LeGuin
http://www.etribes.com/madderbat

I lived in a city for years but a few years ago, I stayed with a friend in the fens of Lincolnshire and the sky at night is truly amazing! I hadn't realised there was so many stars in the sky. I bought a telescope last year but, unfortunately, the light pollution from Coventry and security lights around here mask a great deal of stars. Looking through the telescope reveals much more than the naked eye can see and I have to agree with Johnty, get a telescope! I do need to buy a book though because I don't know what I'm looking at most of the time!

__________________
I want to live forever - or die trying

I grew up in a little village in Devon - very few street lights and you could always see the stars. I now live in Lowestoft, Suffolk, and whilst it's not exactly a busy town there is an awful lot of light pollution. Some nights, if I go out into my back garden and turn my back on the street light in the alley I can have a good look at the stars - I love it. The best stars I've ever seen was when I was fortunate enough to spend some time in Africa, camping in the bush - words fail me.

No problem with light pollution up here - the night skies are superb - especially at this time of year when it gets dark early and the skies are mostly devoid of clouds. Could spend hours just looking up at the stars.
But best of all are the Northern Lights / Aurora Borealis / Heavenly Dancers.
That is a sight that really will take your breath away

__________________
Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday November 13th

Lucky you Rat, I've always wanted to see the Aurora Borealis. Still mustn't complain there is no light polution here and the sky is wonderful.

__________________
Gardening requires a lot of water - most of it in the form of perspiration. Lou Erickson, critic and poet

Actually saw Northern Lights from South Devon when I was about 10 years old, must have been a freak occurrence but I remember my Dad waking me up to see it, it was absolutely breathtaking

It's the most amazing sight I have ever witnessed. It not only takes my breath away, but makes the hairs in the back of my neck stand up, and makes me all sort of spiritual - for a while anyway ! I've been lucky enough to have witnessed three up here - two green dances and the other was a fiery red/orange dance. Truly amazing.

__________________
Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday November 13th

I am very jealous. I have always wanted to se the Aurora. I once even went on holiday to Iceland for 2 weeks hoping to see them. Plenty of earth tremors but no Aurora - grey and overcast for 2 weeks in July.

One day...

__________________
it's written in the wind that we're two, carved out in the sand that we're real,
it's lit up in the stars that we're true, we're destined in the sky to be glad
Paul Weller
http://johntygreentoes.blogspot.com/

I live in the suburbs of London(Kent actually ) and have nearly a two hour commute experiencing the joys of not one rail company but two (SWT & SET). You tend to find your own way of reducing the stress of the travel....

During the winter one of those rare pleasures of the journey is the 10 - 15 minute walk from the station.... and if you're lucky seeing the stars in their glory (sometimes you can)... I've always had a soft spot for Cassiopeia.... don't know why, just have...

There is a web site to warn of the chance to see the Aurora.

http://www.dcs.lancs.ac.uk/iono/aurorawatch/

Saturn is in a good position at the moment in the southern sky - probably the brightest "star" in a group of 4 making a square shape.

__________________
Digger-07

"If you think you can, or think you can't, you're right" Henry Ford.

My dad used to point them all out to me when I was a kid but unfortunatly I didn't pay anything like enough attention and therefore can only identify the Plough, Cassiopea and Orion but it always makes me remember him when I see them.

__________________

Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

I can spot The Plough & Orion, but (and I love the name) where is and what does Cassiopea look like?

__________________
Manda.

"Wouldn't it be nice
For maybe an hour
To not have a care."

Cassiopea looks like a W although it may be on its side or upside down depending on the time of night. It is usually fairly high in the sky at my latitude.

__________________
Digger-07

"If you think you can, or think you can't, you're right" Henry Ford.

Cassiopea is almost directly opposite the plough, just follow the 'indicators' up from the front of the plough to the pole star (Polaris) and Cassiopea is further on again!

Did you know that Cassiopea was used for indicating the time of the year in the middle ages, depending on how it was written, (like an M, or W, or s or z) indicated the season!

__________________
Blessings
Suzanne (aka Mrs Dobby)

'Garden naked - get some colour in your cheeks'!

The Dobby's Pumpkin Patch - a blogspot work in progress!
Last updated 26th November2008 - more new piccies!

No Mrs D I did not know that. Very interesting, thanks.

I shall remember to look for Cassiopea next time I go star-watching.


ps we are star-dust! (love it!)

__________________
Manda.

"Wouldn't it be nice
For maybe an hour
To not have a care."

Oooh, clever stuff, it's amazing what we've forgotten over the years.

__________________

Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

Fascinating

__________________
it's written in the wind that we're two, carved out in the sand that we're real,
it's lit up in the stars that we're true, we're destined in the sky to be glad
Paul Weller
http://johntygreentoes.blogspot.com/

Got lots of light pollution in Haverhill too, but still had a lovely view of the lunar eclipse last week from my living room window.