Uri's Blog Notes from 44.483N, -92.261W, planet Earth

Our star erupts – watch for Northern Lights!

The first burst of solar energy has hit the Earth from a solar eruption on August 1st:

This photo was taken last night in Grand Portage, Minnesota. Watch the northern horizon again tonight, when there is a greater chance to see them.  Happy Aurora Borealis watching.

Lunar eclipse of June 26

Photographer Alan Radecki took an exposure of Saturday's partial lunar eclipse every five minutes to come up with this image documenting the event's progress as seen from California's Mojave Desert.(click the photo for larger image)

Finally, Indian Summer!

An updated monthly report today from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center shows El Nino is gaining strength in the Pacific Ocean. Sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific rose as much as 1 degree Celsius in October. Large areas of the tropical Pacific Ocean are now +1.5 degrees Celsius above average. Read all about it and see an animated graphic of El Nino strengthening, here.

The Summer Moon

The full "Buck Moon" takes place this year at 3:00 a.m. CDT, on July 18th. The buck moon is so called because July is the time when antlers of young bucks push out in coatings of velvety fur. The July full moon is also often called the Full Thunder Moon, or the Full Hay Moon. 
See the current moon phase»

Happy Earth Day to Our Beautiful Planet

Here is my Earth Day gift to you. It is an article by Michael Pollan from Sunday's New York Times Magazine - The Green Issue. It is thought-provoking and really answers the question: Why Bother?
Why Bother? from the New York Times»

A Poem for Earth Day  - Messenger by Mary Oliver

My work is loving the world.
Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird—
equal seekers of sweetness.
Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.
Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.

Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?
Am I no longer young, and still not half-perfect? Let me
keep my mind on what matters,
which is my work,