2022 Starr Ridge PWS Weather Summary

 

We had a 19 day streak out of the 56 total days of 100° F 

Also on one day we had temps vary by 47°F and one day where the temps only varied 4° F

The Dew Point makes the monsoon so easy to identify - blue bands

If it is going to rain it will probably be after 2 o'clock to 5 o'clock seem like a good bet.

A nice breeze in the afternoon is common as well as at least one gust in the 30's MPH a month

This graph tells what wind direction is favored by month

This graph tells us which wind direction is promenate for any wind speed

This graph tells us which direction the wind came throughout the year

Here we can see as an example on any given day the wind travelled from 114.2 miles away

Also on any given day only 1.96% of the time with there be no wind at all

Snow Kissed Desert & Cacti

 I am totally aware this is too many photos, but I cannot help myself when it comes to snow in the desert. Trust me there were many more (504 total). So just scan and pick your favorites.

I have shown you this crested saguaro before but fringed with snow!?!

Saguaros protecting themselves from freezing keeping the snow on the outer edge of the rib.

The saguaros lost their snow in clumps and for some reason the snow only stuck to one side

Snow Touched Mule Deer in the Desert

 It was awesome finding this herd of mule deer on my desert snow hike today. They were certainly not camera shy.

This little guy was enjoying the winter wonderland with the elders

Goodbye

New to Me Crested Saguaro

While on my latest 10.4 mile hike, I found a new to me Lower branch Crested Saguaro. Not much of a crest but the split on the right most branch was interesting. BTW yes my body told me 10.4 miles is a little bit much at my age...

 

Galaxy's Galore

Messier Galaxy M 51, also known as the Whirlpool Galaxy

This bad boy is 31 Million Ligh Years from my telescope.

Messier M 82 a starburst galaxy, also known as the Cigar Galaxy is only the distance light travels in 12 million years (Light-Years)

And finally Messier M 81 or New General Catalog NGC 3031, is named Bode's Galaxy and is a grand design spiral galaxy which is also 12 million light years from you and me.

 

Alrighty Mighty Orion (M 42)

The Orion Nebula is an annual favorite of last night's seeing was phenomenal so I could not resist. The light from this rock star of a nebula took 1,350 years to reach us!!! 

This Star Cluster (M 37) is 4,511light years from earth

A Night Under the Stars, Nebulas, and a Comet...

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF)

C=Non-Periodic Comet (once and done never to come back), 2022=Discovery Year, E=Half-Month Letter (each month of the year is divided in half and assigned a letter, so E is the first half of March), 3=3rd comet discovered in first half of March, 2022, (ZTF)=the name of the discoverer or the name of the observatory program that happened on the comet.

As far as comets go this is a pretty boring one and the green coma is is the only thing that is making it look special...

New General Catalog 2264 (NGC 2264) The Christmas Tree Nebula. Yes this is a dim one as the light took 2,350 years to reach (tired after the long trip).

Dreyer's Nebula the light of this nebula took 1,631 years to reach us.

Messier 1 (M 1) or commonly know as the Crab Neula Light from this little gem took 5.5 years to reach us. This nebula is the leftover debris of an exploding star.