Pluggers by Rick McKee for January 22, 2017

Here’s hoping it just keeps going on and on and on….

And Cassiopeia points to the Andromeda galaxy, 2.5 million light years away. You can see it naked eye, if you have good eyesight. Binoculars for most of us Pluggers, though.

Oh, that we can actually break away our children and grandchildren from the confines of being in front of the electronics.

I remember taking my child to an astronomers club outing. It was free, in November, in the 20’s (degrees F) and they had hot chocolate. She still talks about that. Now that is fun and making memories.

I never could see shapes except for the Dippers and Sagitarious enough to pick out Constelations. Even in a totally dark area (out in a boat or out duck hunting.) Times like that there were just too many stars and they overwhelmed me.

Thanks Gary!

Cassiopeia is fairly easy to see and Scorpius stands out to the south in late summer.I was out at some friends’ house back in the ‘70s and finally saw the Milky Way. I might have seen it before but didn’t know what I was looking at. All I can say is it was marvelous to see it and know what it was. I can’t see it around here as there are too many lights.

Orion is a good one to look at. Try to remember the names of the four “corner” stars.