After dark last night, we sat on our balcony and waited for our eyes to adjust. Seeing the Milky Way is always special, even here where we can see it often. The night was perfect for viewing – the moon had already set and there were no clouds to interfere.
As night vision came on, I noticed the Scorpio constellation, just over the opposite mountain. Getting night vision after being exposed to light is a funny thing. Stars just seem to suddenly appear where you couldn’t see them before. It takes a few minutes being in the dark for the process to complete.
Rob didn’t believe me, so I asked him to fetch his handy little phone app that tells about such things. Sure enough, I was right. I do know my own astrological sign when I see it, even laid out among the stars.
An Uncommon Sight
I would imagine that having a sky dark enough to enjoy seeing the Milky Way is uncommon these days. Almost everyone has security lights, even in the middle of nowhere, and most people live too close to city lights to even see many stars. Light pollution is what that’s called. I’m not sure if you can see constellations with city lights in the sky, but I know you can’t see the Milky Way with even a little light pollution.
This is one of the things I love about living where we do. Although a security light with a switch would be convenient, if I can’t turn it off at will, then I don’t want one. We have motion sensor flood lights that work well enough.
Fear of the Dark
Do we have a collective fear of the dark, and that’s why lights are on all night long in urban, suburban, and even rural areas? Probably, and with good reason. Scary things take advantage of the dark. And the scariest thing of all is other people with malicious intent. I’ve never been afraid of the wild animals that wander about in the dark (click to listen to the coyotes at midnight a few years ago). Cautious, yes, and usually it’s copperheads and rattlesnakes I’m watching for while walking in the dark outside. But not afraid.
I wish I had taken a picture to show you from seeing the Milky Way last night, but my phone just can’t capture it or the Scorpio constellation. But lucky me, I have a friend who is a professional photographer who has a camera that can do it 🙂
The photos below are linked to her shop, so if you like these, you can buy a print in many sizes.
Seeing the Milky Way via Heather Ice-Bell
https://www.ice-bellphotography.com/Nature-and-Wildlife/Sky-Photography/NightPhotography/i-jQM8Smr
https://www.ice-bellphotography.com/CompetitionWinningImages/Competition-Winning-Images/i-HRnSqJW
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Author/Artist Info
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I make Paleo Paints from the lightfast pigments foraged from Madison county, Arkansas, creating under the pseudonym Madison Woods. Most of the colors I use comes from rocks gathered from our own creeks here at Wild Ozark. I outsource titanium for white, lapis for blue, and grow garden thyme for yellow.
My inspiration is nature – the beauty, and the inherent cycle of life and death, destruction and regeneration. My work is a partnership with the land. Immersing in her color, absorbing inspiration, taking communion. A painting begins with a foray to collect rocks, soot and bone. Each pigment, alone a portrayal of beauty, combined in a painting, becomes a whole reflection of the very soul of the Ozarks.
My Portfolio is HERE
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I’m also a REALTOR® with Montgomery Whiteley Realty, under my real name Roxann Riedel. If you’re thinking of moving to the Ozarks of Arkansas and would like me to be your Buyer’s Representative, email, text, or call me at (479) 409-3429! And if you’re moving away from or selling property in Madison, Newton, or Carroll county, I’m happy to be your Listing Agent.