 |
||
|
||
|
Árbol del Sol
Thought for the Month The SunTree Traveler
Gila National Forest Camping Trip The sun got up late on Sunday morning due to low clouds, but those went away early and the day was bright and sunny until late afternoon when a light rain moved in just to remind us that we were in the tail end of the New Mexico rainy season. On Sunday afternoon, the scouts were sent out to locate another potential camping site for those SunTree members who's "camping" gear is a bit too large to get into our traditional campsite. Several potential locations were found and will be investigated further before we schedule our next Gila camping trip. It was a fun weekend. El Paso Potluck/Swim Event
Pool Closing Weekend in Alamogordo The first event will be on the weekend of 1 and 2 October at the home of some SunTree members in Alamogordo. This will be a potluck event. Plan to bring a main or side dish to share with the other SunTree members and guests. Be sure to contact the SunTree to let us know what your plans are for participating.
Halloween weekend at Faywood Hot Springs This Halloween Weekend, we expect to be joined by some of the members of the Buff-A-Teers Club from Marana, AZ (just north of Tucson). As of this writing, we do not have numbers yet (for them nor for SunTree members either), but it should be a good time. Many of the SunTree gang have met some of the Buff-A-Teers at our former Thanksgiving hangout at Jardin del Sol and some at DeAnza Springs Resort. Everybody that we have met seem like very likable people. This should be a fun Halloween weekend. October is a wonderful month to visit the beautiful Faywood Hot Springs, but the SunTree folks have discovered in the past that the weather can occasionally become Winter-like as well, so be prepared. Most of the time the days are sunny and warm. News of two clubs on the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina: La Pines Club in Lacombe Louisiana was devastated. Mercifully, all members had evacuated prior to the storm and are believed to have come through without physical injury. The club management is in communication with people who will be able to report on the club's status as people are allowed back in. The club was under several feet of water and downed trees are throughout the property. LA Pines Ranch is located only 45 miles from New Orleans. The "good" news is that they have begun their clean up efforts. The water has receded, but debris and trees need to be removed. Running Bare Bed and Breakfast in Long Beach, Mississippi "is no longer there."In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Linda Piety owner informed the AANR office that her Inn is no longer there. AANR has received many offers from other clubs and individuals offering temporary support for the members and visitors to these facilities. We are proud to report that some SunTree members are on the AANR list of offers.
Bright Planets and Meteor Showers Venus is still hanging out in the western skies in the post-sunset twilight this month. It is that very bright light to the right of the crescent moon on the sixth and to the left of that same crescent on the seventh. It will get brighter as the month goes on. Venus will stay around the western horizon for the month. On the seventh, if you are wondering what that bright spot balanced on the upper cusp of the moon is, say "hello" to Antares. Sort of a nice accoutrement to the moon, isn't it? You can see a bright Mars just below the Moon on the eighteenth and to the right of the Moon on the nineteenth. The Moon will be very bright on those evenings since it will be only a couple of days after its full stage (on 17 October). Mars is the headliner for the month: The red planet will rise around 8 PM at midmonth and doubles its brightness (yes again; didn't I warn you last month?). It breaks the -2 magnitude barrier and is bested in brilliance only by Venus. Jupiter who has been playing a doubles game with Venus for the last couple of months decides to go into hidding behind the sun on 22 October Saturn is quite high now at dawn. The Milky Way, our own home galaxy, now is highest at nightfall. A beautiful edgewise view can be seen in country skies during October's Moonless opening week. An annular eclipse of the Sun on 3 October is visible in Europe and Africa but not in North America. In western North America, however there will be a lunar eclipse but it will be a partial one and will take more imagination than eyesight. The moon will take on a bruised look on the afternoon of 17 October. It will all be over by 6 PM, so do not get your hopes too high of seeing anything unless you happen to be visiting Hawaii in the early morning hours on that day. To make up for our losing out on any meaningful eclipse this month, we have decided to schedule the Orionid Meteor Shower for later in the month. It should peak on the night of 21 - 22 October. The peak should occur in the pre-dawn sky, but don't let that keep you from looking up at other times of the night. This is normally a rather large meteor shower with the little guys zipping around the sky for a couple of days. It normally is not as large as the Geminid shower in December, but it is better than most others. In the early part of the month, we will have the Draconid shower peaking on 9 October, and it will peak just before bedtime that night. It is not a very large shower at all most years. © 2004 SunTree Travel Club - Site updated Summer 2008 |
||
What Happened in September
top of page