California classic

  

California Quail (Callipepla californica) photographed back in November.

Magician in the rain

 

 

Merlin (Falco columbarius) in the rain at Doran Beach, 8 December 2022

M & M

  

Looking up at the full moon tonight at ~ 6 p.m., it was easy to see Mars very close by.  Although much smaller and not as bright, can you see Mars in the lower left corner?

As we drove home, Mars moved closer and closer to the Moon (visually), and eventually disappeared behind it.  (I've since learned this is called a lunar occultation — the Moon eclipses Mars.)

I wondered how long it would take for Mars to reappear on the other side of the Moon.  Here it is, now in the upper right corner, at a little after 8 p.m.:

 

 

So how big is Mars relative to the Moon and to the Earth?  And how much farther away is Mars?

Diameters:

Mars = ~4,212 miles

Moon = ~2,159 miles

Earth = ~7,918 miles

Distances:

Earth to the Moon = ~238,855 miles (on average)

Earth to Mars = ~38 million miles tonight (the distance varies, but Mars is very close to Earth at this time)

 

With many thanks to the Cold Moon for an astronomy lesson tonight!

 

Harbor light

 

 

End of the day in Bodega Harbor, 6 December 2022

At the horizon

  

  Light at the horizon near sunset, 3 December 2022

Holiday lights?

  

Cockerell's Dorid (Limacia cockerelli), a beautiful nudibranch photographed by Eric on 25 November 2022.  I've shown this species on the blog before, but this is a much better photo!  Thanks, Eric!

Variation

 

 

Last week Eric had good luck finding Ten-tentacled Anemones (Halcampa decemtentaculata) with interesting color patterns.  [You can click on the image for a sharper version.]

Some of the patterns and the amazing variation between individuals reminds us of snowflakes.  And speaking of snow...it's in the forecast for Cotati on Saturday morning!