Whatcha doing today?

[j.w]

They had loads of asters blooming everywhere! I've got quite a few blooming in my gardens right now too, but I really need to add more eventually.

I notice the purple ones I have sure like to drop seeds and multiply.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I notice the purple ones I have sure like to drop seeds and multiply.

Yep, they really do! I removed a bunch two years after planting them because there was so many popping up. Lately I really don't care and just kind of let the garden do whatever it wants to do. I needed more September-October flowers for the bees anyway.

 

[addy1]

I have white, pink, cream, purple asters, let them drop seeds everywhere.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Southwest Airline's special "Illinois One" paint scheme flew over today. I saw this one back in March at a distance. It was closer this time.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I found out at exactly 8:05 tonight that starlink satellites were going over... at 8:05! I immediately grabbed my camera and ran outside. To my surprise they were actually very bright. I wish it was possible for me to capture the line of dots you actually see with your own eyes, but the best I can do is a line.

 

[j.w]

I found out at exactly 8:05 tonight that starlink satellites were going over... at 8:05! I immediately grabbed my camera and ran outside. To my surprise they were actually very bright. I wish it was possible for me to capture the line of dots you actually see with your own eyes, but the best I can do is a line.

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We have gone outside at night at times to view Starlink also. Amazing views!

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Any time I see an old plane, I look into it a bit just in case it has an interesting history. As it turns out, this one does. This 1950 Piper PA-20 Pacer was once owned by Max Conrad, who broke several aviation records (in other Piper aircraft) in the 50's and 60's. With this exact aircraft, he made a successful transatlantic flight in 1950 from New Jersey to Geneva, Switzerland and back. B-17's accompanied him on part of his flight to help with navigation.

Here's a photo I found of the same aircraft, with a different paint scheme back then. Just about every part has been replaced since then, but the frame is still original. This photo was taken after he reached New York.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I've been sort of obsessed with space recently. I think the northern lights and Perseids are partly to blame.

Here's a photo I took tonight of Ursa Minor. Also called Little Bear or Little Dipper. Hard to actually see with the naked eye where I live. So much light pollution now days.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I found the Andromeda Galaxy in one of my photos. It's the furthest thing away that the naked eye can see (2.5 million lightyears away), but you have to be far away from light pollution to see it.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Back home from my camping trip. It was an incredible few days. Got to see Comet C/2023 again, because although it was no longer visible at home, in the forest it still was! Here it is behind the Rawley Point Lighthouse. I'll have plenty of photos to share with you all once I have the time to go through them.