Outta this World

In the space of only a couple of weeks we have had 3 eclipses visible from here. THREE spectacular celestial events. WOW!

Those who know me know I'm in love with natural phenomena - see my earlier post: Phenomena.
These eclipses are no exception.

First we were right in line for the May 25, 2012 Annular Eclipse of the Sun, the so-called "Ring of Fire' eclipse, where the entire Sun is not blocked out, but leaves a circle around the moon's Dark Disk.
Last night, the full Strawberry Moon was partially eclipsed by the Earth's shadow.
Today, RIGHT NOW, the planet Venus is  in Transit across the face of our mighty star. No one alive today is likely to see this again, the next occurrence is in 2117.

These events help me internalize what it actually means to live on a planet orbiting through space in a cosmic dance with moons and stars and other planets. I am elated and humbled by the experience.

Experiencing these, and other, phenomena bring me to the moment in such an exciting way. Here. Now.

I am filled with joy to be part of this astounding universe.

Phenomena

Thunder and lightning last night, fortunately accompanied by rain. We don't want any fires, and rain is welcome.

While I am rather nervous about lightning, I am still fascinated by it and marvel at its power. Early this summer we had an unusual Thunderstorm. Unusual in being so early in the year and in the abundance of lightning making strikes in our vicinity. The photo is of a tree which was hit about 1/4 mile from our house. A strip of bark was blasted off in a spiral down the tree. Awesome. Last year there was a silent lightning storm of cloud to cloud lightning. The sky was full, constantly full, of electric lace for more than 2 hours. Wow!

I love phenomena. When the spectacular comet, Hale-Bopp, was visible I went out every clear night to gaze in awe at it. I was actually offended when it had the nerve to no longer be visible. It was MY comet! How could it abandon me?

Phenomenon: (from Webster's online)
1 plural phenomena : an observable fact or event
2 plural phenomena a : an object or aspect known through the senses rather than by thought or intuition b : a temporal or spatiotemporal object of sensory experience as distinguished from a noumenon c : a fact or event of scientific interest susceptible to scientific description and explanation
3 a : a rare or significant fact or event b: plural phenomenons : an exceptional, unusual, or abnormal person, thing, or occurrence

A simple phenomenon can make my day. On what was otherwise a difficult day I saw a "V" of swans flying when I was driving through Eureka, California. The day changed from that moment. A bald eagle in an unexpected place - flying up a creek along Highway 101 in Leggett, Ca. An aurora, the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station flying over last week. The Milky Way on a clear dark night. These things bring me to the here and now. They take my breath away. They remind me I love life.

Life is fleeting. I am well aware I have less time left than has already gone by and I want to cherish every moment. But these special moments make life exceptional. Make the mundane sublime. Be there. Be here. Now.