Telescope Reviews: Search Image

I took a break a little while ago to wander around in the Monsoon heat and humidity, and somewhat paradoxically, to get a cup of coffee. (A hot beverage in an air conditioned building not being that much of a contradiction.) On my way back I glanced up to check on the afternoon cloud build up. You see, this time of year in Arizona thunderstorms powered by convection are commonplace, and as humid as it was, I assumed there would be clouds blooming as I watched. And sure enough, the blue sky between the clouds that had already popped up was filling with gauzy streamers of vapor. It thickened and brightened and became a small cloud that slowly swelled in size as I watched. I never tire of this show, and look forward to it (and the storms and rain) every summer, even though it means moon watching is a moot point.

Tracing the edge of the growing cloud, I suddenly spotted something very familiar, with a solid, curved edge that no cloud can shape. It was the three day old moon, the same color as the clouds and just visible against the hazy blue midafternoon sky. I looked twice make sure I wasn't imagining it, but sure enough, there it was.

I realized today, in a new way, that I've developed an automatic search image. I'm so Moon orient that, apparently, there is a portion of my brain that comes online and filters the visual data stream for anything moon-shaped. As a result, a very young La Luna stood out for me in the steamy afternoon sky.

In a few monents the growing cumulus cloud covered that part of the sky. But that few moments, for some reason, really made my day.

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Tom W.

SVP8 'She turned me into a 3-legged Newt' EQ
Ralph, the All-Purpose 102mm Refractor
Under the Desert Stars

"If we don't change direction soon, we'll end up where we're going." Professor Irwin Corey