The first clear night in a long while. Warm weather in winter is usually accompanied by cloud and we have had our share.
It’s tougher to stay up late for Willow and I. We had intended to head into the mountains. But the thought of breaking through snow to the knee stopped me. Willow would have been okay. The warm weather softened the snow, with the cooler weather putting a hard crust on the surface, but not enough to hold me.
We stuck to the valley bottom. And headed for the source of the Columbia River. The warmth has robbed the ground of snow and has left a layer of ice. I walked carefully. I could hear Willow’s nose going constantly. She is slowing down, grateful for the smells that still cause a wag and bark.
The winter stars were out in force. Orion ruled the dim end of the Milky Way, Sirus twinkled so much when I caught it in the corner of my eye I thought it was a falling star. Jupiter shone bright above the great chase.
To see it in force, while I try to make sense of it all, knowing all along it’s all a best guess is somehow comforting.
A fine night to count the stars.
Palliser Pass 
mountaincoward
What I like about Pleiades (my favourite constellation) is that, if you’re outside on a starlit night, you don’t look for it – it sort of attracts your attention! Great photos. It must be Jupiter I’ve been looking at this winter and wondering what that huge bright thing is – it has been in the same relation to Orion you show in your photos.
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underswansea
That is so true about Pleiades! Jupiter is definitely the brightest ‘star’ up there. It was a good night, one of the few we have had. Thanks for your comment.
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mountaincoward
it’s funny as I don’t really remember seeing Jupiter before about last year! And that’s despite living in a very dark area and looking out at the stars quite a bit!
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Jim R
Very nice photos. We have been watching Jupiter as it displays near Castor and Pollux. I went out recently with my telescope to view it. The four Galilean moons were close by and it showed two cloud bands across it. Orion kept an eye on me as I viewed. So, I turned the scope to its nebula M42. The Trapezium was easy to spot.
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underswansea
Thanks Jim! I am not able to spot Jupiter’s Moons with my eye. In a perfect world I’d have a 600mm lens on a tracker. Orion’s Nebula I can just make out. The camera even picks up its colours. It has clouded back over so lucky I got out last night. Take care.
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Julie@frogpondfarm
What a beautiful night .. top shots Bob!
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