Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

April 2011

Solar Activity Then and Now

Old Sol continues to increase in activity, moving toward the eleven-year peak. Solar activity affects climate, auroras, (possibly) the electric power grid and radio propagation. For an impressive animation of this comparison, play the video below. To view the full-sized video, click here.

From SOHO Pick of the Week:

A side-by-side comparison of the Sun from precisely two years ago (left, from SOHO) to the present (right, from Solar Dynamics Observatory) dramatically illustrates just how active the Sun has become (Mar. 27-28, 2011). Viewed in two similar wavelengths of extreme ultraviolet light, the Sun now sports numerous active regions that appear as lighter areas that are capable of producing solar storms. Two years ago the Sun was in a very quiet period (solar minimum). The Sun?s maximum period of activity is predicted to be around 2013, so we still have quite a ways to go.

09 Apr 2011 by Aerospace Astronomy Environment Science

Red Birds

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I put the telephoto lens on my Canon Digital Rebel XTi camera yesterday and took several pictures of the birds that came to visit the seed bell I hung in the mesquite tree behind the RV pull-through. I sat on the patio and took this photo of a male cardinal and a male house finch perched among the spring foliage in the mesquite. If this were a contest for the reddest bird, they both qualify as red birds, but the cardinal wins the reddest, IMHO. Click on the image to enlarge.

08 Apr 2011 by Critters Photography

Beavertail Cactus Flower

beavertail-bud.jpgLast month, we transported several of our California cactus collection to Arizona. My beavertail cactus (opuntia basilaris – thanks Crotalus 😉 ) was among those we brought. Today, the first of several flower buds opened.

According to Desert Tropicals, beavertail is a smaller prickly pear cactus, and it will often start blooming when it has only two pads. In the wild, its principal range is limited to the Mojave-Colorado desert. The cactus ranges in the southwest USA (Arizona, California, Nevada) from 200 to 3000 feet elevation.

We will get this cactus transplanted into the rock and cactus garden next week. Meanwhile, enjoy the pretty flowers. Click on the image to enlarge.

07 Apr 2011 by Arizona Home & Garden

View to the Northeast

Damsel took this photo from the hilltop a couple of blocks up the road. It’s a view of the Hassayampa Valley to the northeast and the mountains beyond. The Hassayampa River originates in the mountains and flows underground for miles before flowing on the surface through this area.

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I cropped Damsel’s photo down to create this panoramic image. Click on the image to view the full-sized panorama.

06 Apr 2011 by Arizona Panorama

The Patriot Mailbox

I thought it would be nice for the summer and our upcoming July 4th celebration, to put some patriotic decorations out. I got some bouquets of plastic flowers the other day with a red, white and blue theme and placed them around the base of our new mailbox. Very Pretty, don’t you think? Click on the image to enlarge.

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05 Apr 2011 by Arizona Patriotism Photography Retirement

Cactus Wren on the Seed Bell

cactus-wren.jpg

I bought a little gadget to hang the birdseed bells in the mesquite tree out back where we can see the birds visiting the bell from the patio. Today, a cactus wren (the Arizona State Bird) came to feed and I was surprised to see it hanging like a bat, inverted and pecking from the bottom. None of the other birds seem to do this. Click on the image to enlarge.

03 Apr 2011 by Arizona Critters Photography

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