Sky Magic

NEARLY WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

We've had some wonderful sky magic over the past three days here in Sandia Mountains.

The storm from California seemed to blow through in waves, and after the snow on Thanksgiving Day, it brought bands of cloud across the Sandia Mountain Front.

Dawn, Saturday November 29, 2008.







Mid-afternoon, Sunday, November 30, 2008.
Even as winter approaches, the New Mexico sky retains its stark color contrasts. Cerulean sky, white clouds, and deep blue shadows on the mountains.










Sunset, Sunday evening.
Another band of cloud catches the last light of the sun, high over the Sandias.










During the past days, the waxing moon has been visible in the western evening sky near the conjunction of Venus (above right) and Jupiter (below left). We will not see them as close as this again in our lifetime.

Taken Monday evening, December 1, 2008, my camera was on a tripod.






Before the Engineering Geek got the tripod, I snapped this picture. It was quite windy, so the moon and planets are blurred.
But You can see the horizon and the lingering pink of the December sunset.

Taken Monday evening, December 1, 2008.