by Jim Stratigos | Apr 21, 2021 | Astronomical events, Balsam skies
Its usually a minor shower with a very broad peak that extends from about April 16-26. Tomorrow morning is the theoretical peak with rates that average about 10-20 per hour. The Geminids and Perseids can have rates of up to 100 per hour. As usual the best time to see...
by Jim Stratigos | Feb 7, 2021 | Balsam skies
This makes the fourth snowfall since Christmas and more than three weeks of some snow on the ground. It started around 6:00 PM last night and snowed steadily until early this morning. We got about 4 inches on this side of the mountain. Lexi just loves this snow and...
by Jim Stratigos | Feb 7, 2021 | Balsam skies, Weather
This makes the fourth snowfall since Christmas and more than three weeks of some snow on the ground. It started around 6:00 PM last night and snowed steadily until early this morning. We got about 4 inches on this side of the mountain. Lexi just loves this snow and...
by Jim Stratigos | Dec 21, 2020 | Balsam skies
Looks like the weather will cooperate so I plan to set up a small scope at the Boarding House late this afternoon. Best times to stop by and view or to view from your location will be between twilight (6:00 PM) and 8:00 PM when they set below the horizon. Both planets...
by Jim Stratigos | Dec 20, 2020 | Balsam skies
We drove around the mountain today looking for a good place to observe the conjunction and the only spot with a reasonable view of the southwest without trees or mountains is the back deck at the Boarding House. There are likely other favorable spots like the 9th hole...
by Jim Stratigos | Dec 16, 2020 | Balsam skies
Our Sun goes through a roughly 11 year cycle in which the number of sunspots and overall activity waxes and wanes. Astronomers have been observing this phenomenon for over a hundred years. We are entering cycle 25 based upon direct observations but cycles for the past...
