Monday 12 January 2009

The Sky in Scotland






I watched a piece on the TV the other day about light pollution and it struck me again just how lucky we are to live here in the Perthshire hills of Scotland. When night falls and the sky is clear we can see the stars and I mean really SEE the stars. It is breathtaking . . . the more you look, the more stars you see - clouds and clouds of stars. No light pollution here for us - it is pitch black, until you look at the sky.

When Robot Boy comes home one of the first things he wants to look at is Sky - well yes Sky TV and then when he has done that and it is evening time he goes outside and stares at the sky and wonders at the beauty of it. Yup even teenagers 'get it'.

I sent RB a birthday card which had a picture of two cartoon penguins lying on their backs in the snow staring up at the sky.

1st Penguin - wow Eric look at all those stars . . . what do you think it means . .

Eric - Pause . . . it means someone's nicked our igloo!

Well with his love of stars how could I resist - well clearly I didn't

19 comments:

pinkfairygran said...

Would love to see your sky at night, minus horrible orangey glow from street lamps. Honestly, I know they are for our own good, but couldn't they be switched off, SOMETIMES? However, even with this hindrance I still manage to see lots of stars, and occasionally will go out in the car late evening, into the depths of the countryside, just five minutes drive away, where there are no lights to detract from the marvellous, wonderful cosmos out there. It is breathtaking.... oh, and I agree about the Eddie Izzard comment, what a great bessie friend to have, life would be a hoot.

Chris Stovell said...

We used to be completely dark here... and then they put houses in opposite and STREET LIGHTS aaargh!

Casdok said...

I too love to look at the sky at night. But down here in the sounth we get a lot of light pollution :(

Fennie said...

Love it! Yes, I know just what you mean. The skies of childhood! Recently found once more at The Mill down in France where at night you can't see your hand in front of your face. Proper darkness. Not just dimness. And Happy New Year too!

TIGGYWINKLE said...

Always loved looking at the moon and the stars. We have great visability here, but would love to gain some knowledge. Looked up the Astrology site after the beautiful moon and venus, but don't have the time to take up another interest. Remember getting my girls up, when they were little in the middle of the night to look at a full moon and eating Jelly & Cream. They now do the same with their children. They now think Mama was never nuts, just exciting.

Frances said...

I do envy you that sky and its stars. You've reminded me of summer childhood nights.

The big city in which I live gives scant opportunities to see that very big picture.

Thank you!

Tattieweasle said...

I love stargazing best thing in the world to do even better in the Summer tho' as it's far too cold lately to go out in me jim jams....will peruse the skies later as I put the chickens to bed - have you ever tried to make up your own constellations? I am trying to find Aslan at the moment for the boys, he really should be there...

Pondside said...

Isn't it lovely to live somewhere that isn't polluted by light at night? We are getting neighbours on the north side of the house and I fear that if they are light fiends that we will lose our marvelous view of the stars. I love a dark, dark night as much as I love one with a full moon.

Pipany said...

There are places in Cornwall where it is like this WW, but not outside our door unfortunately. It could be worse, but lovely to read of yours xx

Edward said...

SOOO jealous of your night sky. Are you anywhere near Crieff - my uncle and aunt used to live near there (a wee village called Muthill, unless my spongy memory is playing tricks again).

Anonymous said...

I can definitely vouch for a beautiful sky in the Perthshire Hills. That's a lovely photo, WW.

CJ xx

Calico Kate said...

Oh yes WW. Lovely lovely stars. Wish I knew more of their names. We get the Milky Way clear as clear as clear. Love the Penguin joke!
CKx

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Fortunate doesn't even begin to cover it. You are blessed beyond measure to live in Scotland!

Cait O'Connor said...

Yes we too can see the heavens here and I like to go out last thing and do a bit of stargazing. Aren't we the lucky ones? Not tonight though, too cold. Hope we have snow soon.

CAMILLA said...

Westerwitch, black as night here too. No pavements or any street lights, very few houses too. I am not too hot on the names of the stars, friend was going home recently from here, and said.... look up there, that's the plough.!

Love the Penguin joke.

xxx

Puffin said...

Loved your flowers and seeing if your instructions work and you receive this posting.

Twiglet said...

Thanks for calling to see my purple coo - Mountainear always has an eye for an interesting link. You purple cooers take some amazing photos too!

Phoenix C. said...

A sky free from light pollution is a rare luxury!

Carah Boden said...

Lovely pic. So true about light pollution. We are reasonably dark here (certainly dark enough for me to go outside without any of our outside lights working and smashed straight into the babysitter's car - nearly broke my finger!). We have the lights of Buxton which are behind our escarpment - but they serve the purpose of creating a silhouette of the hills which otherwise would be invisible at night.

Love the line on that cartoon penguin card - made me laugh!

Now, WW, you said in your previous post, you would try harder in 2009 not to neglect your blog so much. Well, it is now APRIL and your last post was JANUARY!! Methinks you need to try harder. Can pupils send Headmistresses to detention??

Meanwhile, my continued gratitude to all you do at Purplecoo. My intention was to pop into the site more often than I manage, but you can send me to the corner for failing rather dismally so far this year too. It is not through lack of desire, just, as ever, the dreaded lack of TIME....
xx