My October viewing plans are foiled by dreary skies and my second chance to view Comet SWAN is put on hold indefinitely.
I have been waiting for weeks to get another look at Comet SWAN, hoping that its evening appearance is improving and wanting to get a glimpse of the tail. My binoculars have been sitting out on the dining room table night after night, unused and collecting dust.
October is not the sunniest month where I live. Fall in general can be a bit gloomy, and this year is no exception. Not only did the temperature take a turn for the worse after my last opportunity to view Comet SWAN, but the sun seemed to disappear for days on end.
There was one night over the past weeks that was clear and the stars shone brightly. Unfortunately it happened to be a night in which I had made previous plans with friends, so by the time I got home Comet SWAN had long since set. I did get an early peek at Taurus and Orion rising in the East.
Last night the sun once again set behind a wall of clouds. I knew the next day was supposed to reveal the sun, but I was surprised to glance out the window later in the the evening yesterday to find stars shining! Within seconds I was bundled up and had retrieved my binoculars from the dining room table. Slipping outside, I saw the summer triangle overhead, making its westward retreat, and noticed that the handle of the Big Dipper was all that I could see of Ursa Major. The rest had already sunk beneath the horizon. I made an attempt to sweep among the hills and trees to my west, looking for Comet SWAN's faint fuzzy glow, but it was not to be. I was too late. A couple of clouds still drifted across the sky, hiding and uncovering the bright stars above. The Milky Way was visible stretching overhead. And as I looked up, a few snowflakes drifted down to land on my face.
Tonight I have another chance to look, as the evening should reveal some stars in between the clouds, if I am lucky. Although so far, I haven't been.
