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3Hotdogs

(14,550 posts) Fri Aug 22, 2025, 05:05 PM Aug 22

Last night, I saw the Big Dipper. First time in decades. Couldn't miss it.

That was in west N.J. I live in east N.J. I usually see no more than 6 or 7 stars and planets in the sky/

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Last night, I saw the Big Dipper. First time in decades. Couldn't miss it. (Original Post) 3Hotdogs Aug 22 OP

Kids today will grow up never knowing a sky full of stars. Intractable Aug 22 #1

I live in the Catskills. Woodwizard Aug 22 #2

Visited The Catskilks several times 5 1/2 decades ago! electric_blue68 Aug 22 #4

I live about an hour northwest of Goshen. Woodwizard Aug 23 #5

Lovely countryside! .... electric_blue68 Aug 23 #6

Nice! Bc ?"Black moon". When I went across the US by bus I'd see... electric_blue68 Aug 22 #3

SO happy for you! My username 'Talitha' is a star in that constellation. Talitha Aug 24 #7

Intractable

(1,290 posts)

1. Kids today will grow up never knowing a sky full of stars.

Reply to 3Hotdogs (Original post)

Fri Aug 22, 2025, 05:30 PM

Aug 22

The closest thing to a religious experience I've ever had is contemplating existence while staring into the infinities of a star-lit sky.

It's been years since I've seen one.

Woodwizard

(1,207 posts)

2. I live in the Catskills.

Reply to 3Hotdogs (Original post)

Fri Aug 22, 2025, 07:00 PM

Aug 22

Away from light pollution. The sky especially in clear winter nights is stunning.

Some clear nights in summer you get the haze of the Milky Way.

electric_blue68

(23,846 posts)

4. Visited The Catskilks several times 5 1/2 decades ago!

Reply to Woodwizard (Reply #2)

Fri Aug 22, 2025, 10:00 PM

Aug 22

Thrn I saw The Milky Way while I and a friend slept out in our sleeping bags overnight in Monument Valley in 1979!

The full moon was up at 9PM when we turned in. When we woke up at 3AM - there it was, arcing 2/3rds in the sky over us. The amazing splendor!

Then in the mid- '80s up in the NYS countryside; somwwhat north of Goshen on 3 vacations I saw the sky full of stars. Ahhhhhh.

Woodwizard

(1,207 posts)

5. I live about an hour northwest of Goshen.

Reply to electric_blue68 (Reply #4)

Sat Aug 23, 2025, 02:19 PM

Aug 23

I lived in HI for 5 years I like the Catskills better. Though with climate change we do not get as much snow for activities as we did.

electric_blue68

(23,846 posts)

6. Lovely countryside! ....

Reply to Woodwizard (Reply #5)

Sat Aug 23, 2025, 05:11 PM

Aug 23

Went to a wellness retreat/organic farm on occasion more or less N, NW if Gosgen.
Person also had a gigantic vegetable & fruit farm in Goshen 1980s

electric_blue68

(23,846 posts)

3. Nice! Bc ?"Black moon". When I went across the US by bus I'd see...

Reply to 3Hotdogs (Original post)

Fri Aug 22, 2025, 09:51 PM

Aug 22

The Big Dipper in the north at night. So pretty!

In our last family apt in the Winter I could see Orion out my window! So wonderful!
Been about 10 yrs since I've seen a sky full of stars. I was in a small village on Swirzerland.

Talitha

(7,589 posts)

7. SO happy for you! My username 'Talitha' is a star in that constellation.

Reply to 3Hotdogs (Original post)

Sun Aug 24, 2025, 12:48 AM

Aug 24

So glad you were able to see the Big Dipper! It's in the (huge!) constellation Ursa Majoris (the big bear). Talitha is way down at the southeastern part of the constellation, in the toe of the Bear's front paw.

I know what you mean about being happy to see it, though. I grew up in Chicago and just about the only thing we could see was the Moon. Now I'm in northcentral Wisconsin and live where fellow astronomers vacation to in order to get to dark skies.

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