At our house, August means it's time for a star gazing trip to the Ochoco National Forest in Central Oregon. Along with us were 500 plus other amateur astronomers camped out on a sagebrush studded meadow, hoping for moderate temperatures during the days and clear, dark skies at night. While we did get a couple of days that met those criteria, what we got the rest of the week were hot days and about 30 degrees of horizon lost to smoke from all the forest fires in Southern Oregon and Northern California. Not ideal viewing circumstances. However, it did prompt the following haiku rambles:
Heat fries stony ground
We sit, listless 'til darkness
Brings relief and stars
Ochoco heat wave
Leaves star hounds daylight zombies
Baying for star rise
Smoke rings the meadow
Obscuring constellations
Dulling nighttime views
Despite the smoke, we did see some nice displays from the Perseus Meteor Shower. If we were looking in just the right direction at just the right time, that is.
Panning the night sky
Waiting while those shooting streaks
Appear behind me
Yes, not the greatest year for star gazing in the Ochoco, but we star gazers are optimists.
Night skies were a bust
Too much smoke veiled good viewing
Can't wait for next year
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