Blood Moon, Lunar Eclipse Come to Hampton, New Hampshire

It is easy to forget how small we are in the universe, but last night held some reminders.  

The sky was nearly cloudless in Hampton but the stars were not prominent because the moon was full and lighted up the sky. It looked much larger than even a full moon ordinarily looks. Then, slowly, beginning around 9 PM, a smudge appeared on its left hand edge and worked its way across the moon. Over a little more than an hour, it slowly progressed, as the earth came between the moon and the sun and as this happened the moon took on a red cast.

It was all visible from my house.  No need for telescopes. 

I'm told the next time this happens will be 18 years.  We always used to say in Maryland, it'll be a long time before that happens again--the Cicadas will be back around the time that happens--the Cicadas are on a 17 year cycle. They are large cricket like insects which bloom every 17 years and fill the night air with their Cicada sounds and they fall dead all over the ground, covering surfaces like snow. 

Up here, we'll be saying--it'll be another blood moon before we see that happen again. 

All this comes just a month or two since the blue moon.

This morning, before sunrise, the full moon had drifted across the sky to the Southwest and hung low over my neighbor's rooftop. The sky was now sparkling with stars, constellations.  The air was clear and brisk.  

Mr. Boat, aka Tugboat went about his business peeing, not looking up at the sky. He's a full blooded lab and he does not look skyward much. He keeps his nose to the ground. There is enough there to keep him occupied. That is one difference between dogs and people. Dogs focus on what is on the ground, what is within their reach or scent. People look to the heavens and wonder.