Three Celestial Bodies + ISS

It was a busy Sunday yesterday, even though we skipped 24 Hour Fitness, as the strong winds knocked out the power at the gym.

After church, we went straight to Seabright Beach and walked for about an hour. It was so cheerful to see happy faces, bright sunshine, the endless expanse of shining ocean water, and the busy activities on the sand dunes and the Boardwalk. We returned home and finished a series of chores, such as trimming both persimmon and cherry trees, newly roping the clothes lines, and cleaning the house. Just minutes before the sunset, we arrived at Moran Beach to see the event. The sun was prematurely disappearing due to the heavy edge of the thick fog bank surrounding the horizon.

When we walked towards Pleasure Point and The Hook, the full moon appeared. There were patches of clouds, but the moon was not intimidated. It popped through now and then, silvery and proud, living up to her reputation as a Snow Moon. It is also known as the Hunger Moon or Storm Moon by some Native American tribes. Just across from the full moon, Venus was shining in the sky. What celestial bodies we have greeted this evening!

On our way back, a group of four people were staring up into the sky, shouting ISS, ISS, ISS! Indeed the proud International Space Station passed directly overhead and and past us at that moment. It was more than nine minutes before it winked out of view at a distance of over 900 miles, a fitting encore to an already eventful celestial evening.