A few weeks ago, we discovered a nest in the cholla cactus in front of our house. We saw that there were some eggs and that the nest belonged to a curve billed thrasher. Today, I took this photo of the nest where two thrasher chicks and an unhatched sibling are living. Both the Mom and Dad thrasher tend to the feeding and incubating of the chicks and egg. Click on the image to enlarge.
Using photographs that Verna took during the eclipse, I threw together a little animation of the main part of the event. To start the animation, click the image below; it will run until maximum annularity. Click again to continue to almost the end of annularity. Click once more to to rewind. Pardon the slight jitter; it was difficult to align each frame perfectly with my animation application.
I cannot tell you how amazingly spectacular it was to see in person. Verna and I are already starting to plan for the total eclipse that will occur on August 21, 2017. We are looking at being near Casper, WY, but that could change between now and five years from now.
Click here to see the equipment and camera settings she used.
On our way out of Williams, AZ, this morning, Verna got this shot of a vintage steam locomotive and caboose in the yard of the Grand Canyon Railroad. The locomotive is still used for occasional trips to Grand Canyon Village. The railroad also uses more modern diesel electric locomotives on most of the runs to the rim. Click on the image to enlarge.
We were going to stay one more night on the road, but decided before pulling into the campground that we had plenty of vacation for the time being. We reset the GPS to take us the last 50 miles or so to our little home in Wickenburg, where we are enjoying recuperation and relaxation.
This is the Wukoki ruins in Wupatki National Monument. Wukoki is a modern Hopi word meaning “big house.” I took this image today as we went through Sunset Crater and Wupatki on our way from Flagstaff to Page, AZ. The ruins in the area are very well preserved and to my delight were accessible along a short foot path. Unlike Casa Grande (also meaning “big House”) near Coolidge, AZ, I could walk directly into this big house that was built over 900 years ago. Click on the image to enlarge.
Today’s the first leg of our excursion to Page, AZ to witness the May 20, 2012 annular eclipse of the Sun. We had a good trip that took us from our Wickenburg home, through the Saguaro forests along AZ SR 74 to I-17, thence north to Flagstaff, where we set up camp for the night among the tall conifer trees. Tomorrow, we head towards the ultimate destination with a few scenic stops along the way. Click on the image to enlarge.
I’m still rehearsing for the eclipse next week. Yesterday, very large sunspot 1476 was strutting its stuff across the solar plasma (still is today, I believe). I stepped out to the courtyard and captured this solar disk image using the techniques for previous solar imaging. If you look closely, you can see sunspot group 1477 above and to the left – look for a pair of slightly dark spots at about latitude 45. Click on the image for full resolution.
